Arizona Senate Republicans fired back after Katie Hobbs (D) withdrew her nominations for Arizona’s state agencies and declared she would deny oversight from the Arizona Legislature by appointing permanent “executive deputy directors” instead.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Hobbs called Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek), who heads the Arizona State Senate panel to vet and interview Hobbs’ nominees, a “fake elector” guilty of creating a “political circus” in the Senate.
In response, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) issued a press release calling Hobbs’ move illegal and promising the Senate will be ready to continue nomination hearings when Hobbs is ready to put forward new nominations.
Petersen stated that Hobbs’ actions suggest she believes herself to be “above the law” and proves she “will go to extreme measures” to bypass requirements enshrined in the Arizona legal code. “Without directors fulfilling these obligations, the legality of every decision made by these state agencies is dubious, and litigation against the state would surely prevail,” warned Petersen.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Unlawful Move by Governor Will Not Change Senate's Confirmation Process on State Agency Director Nominees@votewarren ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sOg0b2dBMn
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) September 25, 2023
