Arizona business and law enforcement leaders are pushing back hard against a measure that could tack a $325 million price tag onto the state's annual budget. The controversial HCR 2060 has drawn fire for its potential to wreak havoc on Arizona's economy and overburden both law enforcement and correctional institutions. The measure, intended to counter what is seen by some as federal inaction on border security, has now found itself in the crosshairs of criticism from key industry associations and bipartisan border law enforcement officials.
Despite the Legislature's frustration with federal immigration and border security efforts, the likes of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Phoenix Leadership have voiced their concerns. Conditions at the border are dire, thrusting the weight of responsibility onto local precincts who are ill-equipped for such an undertaking, say law enforcement professionals facing the prospect of these new challenges. In a statement obtained by AZ Central, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre bluntly branded the proposed criminal provisions as unenforceable, bad public policy, and embarrassing for this state.
On the economic front, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce President Danny Seiden made it clear that while there is agreement with Governor Katie Hobbs on the need for federal intervention, the approach proposed by HCR2060 is seen as misjudged. "By taking on this federal responsibility, we’re saddling overburdened law enforcement and correctional agencies with a new, unfunded mandate," Seiden said.
It's not just the burden on law enforcement that worries officials, but also the potential hit to Arizona's reputation and its ability to attract businesses. The Grand Canyon Institute said that if the border crisis is not managed at the federal level and is left to individual states, it could pose a risk to economic stability. Assuming a flood of border crossers coupled with current incarceration rates, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) could find itself in dire need of a new prison.
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council also chimed in, raising red flags over the constitutional legalities and bill complexities of HCR2060, fearing that the proposal could backfire and create even greater strife for Arizona's economy. "The provisions pose a significant risk to Arizona’s brand and our ability to continue to attract high-value companies to the region," a representative stated.
Furthermore, ADCRR's alarm over the expected surge in prison spending and its potential to contravene a federal court injunction relating to inmate medical care requirements adds to a chorus of discontent. While Arizona stares down a $1.3 billion budget deficit, this measure threatens to add insult to fiscal injury.
