Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has recently drawn the ire of Republican lawmakers, as reported by Western Journal.
On April 17, Hobbs declared that she would not endorse any legislation until the Republican-controlled legislature approved a substantial spending bill that would impact 60,000 disabled Arizonans. This move is seen as a response to the introduction of HB2945 by House Republicans, a bill designed to deny Hobbs additional funding for Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) program.
According to the Western Journal, the controversy began when a Republican-led committee discovered a $122 million shortfall in the Hobbs Administration's budget for fiscal year 2025 during its inaugural meeting on April 3. This deficit threatened the viability of the DDD program. The House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement accused Hobbs of expanding the disabilities program without legislative approval, including making a temporary COVID policy permanent. This policy compensated parents for caring for their own disabled children.
In the aftermath of the $122 million deficit, Hobbs is now urging Republican lawmakers to pass a supplemental funding bill to cover the shortfall. "This crisis didnt happen overnight," Republican House Speaker Steve Montenegro stated in a news release. "The Hobbs administration expanded programs in DDD without legislative approval and delayed or ignored key program limitations. They now want taxpayers to bail them out without a plan to fix it."
The DDD program, which serves nearly 60,000 vulnerable Arizonans, including children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities, faces closure on May 1 if Hobbs does not secure the necessary funding. This would leave disabled Arizonans without the services they rely on.
Montenegro, in a phone interview with The Western Journal, emphasized the Republicans' commitment to responsibility. "Weve got families expecting these funds. And we will pass a bill that funds these vulnerable communities. However, we want to make sure there are safeguards in this supplemental to make sure this doesnt happen again. These families deserve stability."
The Republican House bill proposes to reallocate unused or mismanaged funds already under Hobbs's control, without raising taxes or increasing spending. This approach reflects the conservative values of fiscal responsibility and limited government intervention.
Earlier this year, Hobbs clashed with Republicans over funding for Congregate Care, a Department of Child Safety program. Hobbs's office informed the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) in January that the program required funding. However, the JLBC was reportedly not notified of a deadline until March 5, with the default date being March 24. "Who waits until 19 days before bankruptcy to tell anybody about it?" Montenegro questioned at a March 17 news conference.
Without funding, approximately 1,500 children living in DCS group homes would need to be relocated. The JLBC ultimately approved the transfer fund on March 20, ensuring the Congregate Care program received the necessary funding.
Republican House Majority Leader Michael Carbone, speaking about the recent DDD program controversy, told The Western Journal, "Were trying to solve the problem, put in those guardrails, which should be expected by our constituency doesnt matter if youre Republican or Democrat, so this never happens again. That no one can play politics with these children. And thats the narrative. Theyre trying to put it on us, and its not the case."
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