Late Saturday night, lawmakers signed a controversial budget deal, which is now on its way to Governor Katie Hobbs where she is anticipated to sign it. Hobbs, House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Glendale), and Senate President Warren Peterson (R-LD12) negotiated this bipartisan agreement, excluding both Democratic leadership and Freedom Caucus members from the negotiation table.
Republican leadership praised the Arizona Fiscal Year 2025 state budget for its conservative fiscal discipline, addressing a $1.4 billion shortfall without raising taxes, and prioritizing public safety and school choice.
The conservative Freedom Caucus strongly opposed the budget, citing concerns about both the process and the substance. Democrats also criticized the budget, accusing Republicans of “buying Democratic votes.”
Senator Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) expressed his support for the Freedom Caucus members, describing them as “watchmen standing on the wall.” He stated that despite pressure from the establishment to “come down,” “quit fighting,” or accept potential electoral losses, true warriors “never give up, never give in, and never surrender.” Kern emphasized his honor in fighting alongside these dedicated individuals.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a lengthy statement articulating her opposition to using $1.14 billion in opioid settlement funds to cover Arizona’s budget deficits. These funds are part of a national settlement intended to address the impact of the opioid crisis, which includes support for opioid education, rehabilitation resources, harm reduction strategies, and other public health initiatives. Mayes warned that diverting these funds to cover budget shortfalls could jeopardize the settlement’s primary objectives and undermine efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Arizona. She has threatened legal action to block any attempt to repurpose these funds for budgetary purposes, emphasizing the need to honor the original intent of the settlement to support communities affected by the opioid crisis
Hobbs is poised to sign the budget and stated, “Arizonans can rest assured that their state has a balanced budget. I’m thankful for members of the legislature who came together, compromised, and passed this bipartisan agreement. By working together, we made responsible choices that protected critical services that everyday Arizonans rely on while closing a $1.8 billion deficit.”
