Disarray continues in the Arizona legislature, with Republican infighting on full display as the state marches toward a government shutdown. But there are signs a bipartisan budget package is on the move that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs could actually sign to avoid a shutdown.
Tensions are running high between Republicans who support the bipartisan spending package and those who backed two other budget proposals, which have only Republican support.
Hobbs vetoed both Republican-only spending packages on Wednesday shortly after lawmakers sent them to her office.
Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) has faced fierce criticism from some fellow Republicans, but he defended negotiating a bipartisan plan with Hobbs – and took veiled shots at the legislators who chose to pursue partisan packages that had no chance of becoming law.
“With the help of shock jocks and troll farms, you can fool some of the people some of the time. It takes leadership, competence and courage to pass a bipartisan budget in divided government,” Petersen said.
Hobbs had promised to veto both of the partisan budgets proposed by House Republicans, who for days have refused to consider the bipartisan Senate-Hobbs plan.
In a statement, Hobbs called the partisan budgets “unserious,” “reckless” shams.
“Now, it’s time for House Republican leadership to move past their political stunts and work productively with their colleagues before they force an unnecessary state government shutdown of their own creation,” Hobbs wrote.
If lawmakers don’t pass a budget that Hobbs will sign by the end of the month, Arizona faces an unprecedented government shutdown.
“We have a few people who would rather divide than multiply,” Petersen said. “Apparently the drama benefits them, optics matters more than substance and actual work that gets accomplished, chaos is preferred to progress.”
But there were indications that Republican leaders in the House and Senate have figured out a way to end the stalemate with just days left before the June 30 deadline to pass a budget.
On Wednesday, Petersen agreed to bring both House budgets up for a vote, even though they were destined to be vetoed by the governor.
Later in the day, Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) allowed the bipartisan Senate budget to be introduced in the House for the first time since Senators passed it last week. That starts a process that could allow lawmakers to pass that budget and send it to Hobbs as soon as Friday.
Montenegro, who shepherded both of the now-vetoed all-Republican plans through his chamber and voted for them, declined to comment on Petersen's comments.
But he was unapologetic for supporting the House plans that included less spending. He said it reflects concerns by fellow GOP lawmakers that the state simply won't have the revenues to support the larger budget negotiated between the Senate and the governor.
“Our focus, my focus, is going to continue to be always working for the people of Arizona,” Montenegro said. “They sent us here to do a job. And that is to pass a budget that reflects their priorities and voices their opinions.”
Now, he said, with the governor's vetoes and the House plans dead, there is a need to talk – especially with the June 30 deadline.
“We want to make sure that the government doesn't shut down,” he said.
There are still several hurdles to cross before the bipartisan budget reaches Hobbs’ desk. That includes what’s called “Committee of the Whole,” a legislative process that could allow House lawmakers to make additional changes to the budget deal negotiated by Hobbs and Senate Republicans.
Rep. Oscar De Los Santos (D-Laveen), the top Democrat in the House, said he is confident the bipartisan budget will pass the House.
“The House Democratic caucus is overwhelmingly in support of the bipartisan negotiated budget,” he said.
Montenegro and Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria), who chairs the House committee that considers budget bills, previously said they didn’t believe the bipartisan budget package had enough support to pass the House – contradicting a statement Livingston made shortly before it passed out of the Senate.
But De Los Santos said he believes there has always been enough support in the House to pass the deal.
“It is my understanding we have, and frankly have had, enough votes in the House Republican caucus to get this over the line,” he said.
The House is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday afternoon to consider the bipartisan budget plan.
Howard Fischer with Capitol Media Services contributed to this report.
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