Gov. Doug Ducey denies using the power of state agencies to help undermine the measure voters approved last month raising Arizona's minimum wage.
Business interests are in court Tuesday in a bid to have a judge declare Proposition 206 illegal, because it imposes illegal new financial obligations on the state.
And to make that case, the lawsuit names several state agencies as defendants.
Ducey acknowledged Monday that he was an opponent of the initiative, requiring employers to pay their workers at least $10 an hour beginning next month, eventually reaching $12 by 2020.
But the governor said his agencies will follow the law and let the legal process play out.
"They will follow the law and they will deal with the results. Like I said, we're planning and budgeting.," Ducey explained. "This is passed. The people have spoken. There's an issue. It's in front of the courts. So we'll let the courts decide."
The governor also said he is unaware of an effort to call a special election next spring asking voters to reconsider their November decision, arguing the result may have been different had people been aware of the potential financial hit to the state budget.
Proponents of the wage hike say it is not unconstitutional because the state is not obligated to pick up the additional costs.