Arizona Gov. Hobbs vetoes budget bills as government shutdown nears
PHOENIX - Arizona's Governor vetoed two budget bills on Wednesday afternoon, saying they would "shortchange public safety, childcare, and the state’s veterans."
This brings Arizona closer to a first-ever state government shutdown as lawmakers can't agree on a budget.
What we know:
Gov. Hobbs warned lawmakers that if the bills came to her desk, she'd veto them. Still, they sent them over, and she vetoed them on June 25.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
"For months, I worked with leaders of both parties, in both chambers, to craft a bipartisan, balanced, and fiscally responsible budget that the majority of Senate Republicans support. That budget has pay raises for State Troopers and firefighters, cuts taxes on small businesses, invests in combatting Veterans homelessness, and makes childcare more affordable and accessible. It passed the Senate and should be voted on by the House," she said. "I have long made clear that both of the partisan and reckless House Republican budgets are unacceptable. They gut public safety, slash health care for Arizonans, harm businesses, fail to lower costs, and leave our Veterans out in the cold. These unserious budgets are wrong for the people of Arizona."
She is calling on GOP lawmakers to work with Democrats to come up with a bill everyone can agree on.
Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro released a statement on the vetoes.
"I’m disappointed the Governor has now vetoed two responsible budgets passed by the House—each of which would have prevented a government shutdown and kept essential state services running.
The House has done its job, twice. We passed a balanced budget that prioritized responsible spending and core needs. When that plan was rejected, we advanced a continuation budget to avoid disruption and allow time for further negotiations. Both were rejected.
Despite the Governor’s actions, House Republicans will continue working to keep government operating and protect Arizona taxpayers from the consequences of political brinkmanship."
What's next:
If Governor Hobbs doesn't sign a budget bill by June 30, Arizona faces its first-ever government shutdown.