Republicans in the Arizona House blocked an effort by Democratic representatives to fast track funding Gov. Katie Hobbs says is necessary to save a program that provides services for Arizonans with disabilities from bankruptcy.
Arizona Department of Economic Security officials told lawmakers in January that the agency needed additional funding this year to keep its Division of Developmental Disabilities afloat. According to the Hobbs administration, the division, which administers the program that provides Medicaid funding for individuals with disabilities in long-term care, needs a $122 million cash infusion or it will run out of money in May.
On Tuesday, Democrats attempted to fast track that funding.
Typically, bills moving through the legislature must be approved by a committee before reaching a full vote in the House or Senate. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson) attempted a procedural maneuver to skip that step and force the Arizona House of Representatives to vote on her bill, which would send the $122 million Hobbs has requested to DES.
“Stop the politics. Stop the games,” House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos (D-Laveen) said. “We can have this supplemental [funding] passed right now, today, if we wanted to act, but we don't.”
For the second time in a month, Republican lawmakers blocked that bill from being heard. Republicans continue to argue it is Hobbs, not them, who is to blame for the financial crisis in the Department of Economic Security, accusing her administration of mismanaging the agency’s budget.
They point to the governor’s decision to continue a program that pays parents who act as caregivers for their children even though lawmakers did not include direct funding for the initiative in this year’s budget.
“Gov. Hobbs’ irresponsible budgeting put into danger a critical safety net that we will have to address here at the legislature,” said Rep. Matt Gress (D-Phoenix), vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
Republicans have repeatedly said they are willing to work out a solution to deal with the problem.
“Despite the irresponsible actions of Governor Hobbs and her state agencies, we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that these critical services continue to be provided without interruption, as the individuals and their families rightfully deserve and expect consistency and reliability from their state government,” Sen. Frank Carroll (R-Sun City West) said in a statement.
However, neither House or Senate Republicans have provided any specific details on what their own solution, an alternative to the governor’s supplemental funding request, could look like.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Steve Montenegro said Monday he will convene a new committee to look at Hobbs’ alleged “budget mismanagement,” including potential solutions to the financial crisis in the Division of Developmental Disabilities.
And Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, has repeatedly indicated he is opposed to a standalone funding bill like the one Gutierrez proposed. He said any deal with Hobbs to solve the problem should be negotiated as part of the larger state budget.
Livinston has said any new funding deal for the division will have to come with cost-saving measures as well — something Hobbs and Democrats are not on board with.
“Instead of working to ensure that DDD can fulfill its obligations to everyday Arizonans, Republicans are lying to their constituents and weaponizing routine budget processes to cover for the fact that they refuse to protect the vulnerable people the state serves,” Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater said in a statement.
It’s unclear when Hobbs and Republicans could reach a budget compromise that includes new funding for DES. Budget negotiations stretched into June last year and public statements indicate the sides are still far apart this year.
