House Republicans, led by Speaker Steve Montenegro and his cohort, have taken a stand against Governor Katie Hobbs, criticizing her for the $122 million deficit in Arizona's Developmental Disabilities Program. These GOP legislators are pointing fingers directly at Hobbs' management tactics—or the alleged lack thereof.
"Governor Hobbs’ gross mismanagement puts Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens at risk," the statement proclaimed. The legislators lambasted the Governor for not consulting the Legislature before making spending decisions that led to the economic crunch of the Developmental Disabilities program. Now faced with the shortfall, Hobbs is looking for a taxpayer bailout. The Arizona House of Representatives vows to secure the program's prospects but refuses to endorse what they view as Hobbs' mishandled strategy.
With a program set to soar in costs from fiscal year 2023 to 2026, the lawmakers cast doubt on the current trajectory's sustainability. The Governor reportedly ousted her budget director, demoted the Department of Economic Security director, and removed her health policy advisor—moves that the GOP construe as deflections rather than solutions. The statement from the Republicans concluded with a call to action: Hobbs must direct her agency staff to work constructively with the Legislature if a financial fiasco is to be forestalled.
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