Governor Doug Ducey recently proposed using more than $900,000 meant to help veterans and their families to pay for three veterans' cemeteries. Tuesday, he withdrew that proposal.
The move comes after harsh criticism from veterans groups and some lawmakers. The money would have come from donations to the Military Family Relief Fund. The fund helps families of wounded vets be near their sides at military hospitals and survivors after death benefits expire.
Gubernatorial spokesman Daniel Scarpinato said opposition to this plan caused Ducey to rethink.
"We're going to find another source of revenue for the cemetery operations," Scarpinato said. "Your next question is where and how we're going to do that. We're going to find it. I don't have an answer to that right now, but it won't be coming out of this fund."
The cemeteries include an existing one in Sierra Vista, as well as two new ones slated to open next year in Marana and Flagstaff.
