Republican lawmakers have ordered an investigation of the Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind, but they won’t say why.
GOP Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) told the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday that he was approached by a whistleblower with accusations related to the school's finances. Democrats pressed Hoffman for details ahead of a 6-4 party line vote to order the Arizona auditor general to investigate the school.
“As I understand it, you received super secret spy information and now you want all of us to jump out on a limb?” Sen. Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe) asked Hoffman. “Can you give us any other information aside from the fact that some unknown person who evidently has a great deal of clout with the Republican Party … made allegations?”
Hoffman refused to publicly specify, and specifically said he won’t divulge details to Democratic lawmakers.
“It's not an ideal scenario to tip your hand, OK? So, no, I’m not prepared to provide those to the minority, quite frankly, I don’t trust most of you,” he said.
Hoffman also said he hasn’t communicated with the school, claiming that might not be in the best interest of the investigation. Superintendent Annette Reichman says she has no idea what Hoffman believes the school has done wrong.
“If I did, I would be able to respond more appropriately. I feel like what I just said to you is the stuff of what she calls ‘tinfoil hat paranoia,’” Reichman said after the hearing, gesturing to a friend.
JLAC Co-Chair Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) said that Hoffman had briefed him “on the general nature of these allegations” and he supports the investigation based on that information alone.
Rep. Charles Lucking (D-Phoenix) accused Republicans of rubber-stamping an investigation. It’s a clear example of “broken government,” he added.
“What I didn’t expect to ever happen was that I would be expected to vote on something where I was given no information that was given selectively to other members,” Lucking said.
Epstein, too, said it was a breach of ethics to ask members to vote on an investigation when they don’t know the basis for it.
“Not giving the information to the minority is a disgusting action that disrespects every person in the state of Arizona. I am overcome with dismay and disrespect for my Republican colleagues who have made this decision,” Epstein said.
Auditor General Lindsay Perry estimated that the investigation will cost between $1.2 million and $2 million. The most recent audit on the school was done in 2022 and presented to JLAC in 2023.
Democrats said the auditor general’s investigation is another example of Republicans attacking the school without justification.
In 2023, GOP lawmakers voted to extend the school’s operations for four years instead of the customary eight. The law passed after a long period of debate and some concern that the school could be terminated altogether.
