Veto summary: Hobbs has now signed 53 bills and vetoed 48. Among her vetoes: so-called “anti-CRT” teacher gag bill SB1305 and “rampant lawsuits against teachers” bill SB1005. We expect more vetoes to come, including “parents carrying guns in schools” bill SB1331, “school choice” marketing scam HB2539, and irresponsible tax-cut bill SB1260.
Last week’s expulsion of conspiracy theorist Liz Harris (R-13) led both the House and Senate to declare a recess; they’ll be back on Tuesday, April 25. Raquel Teran (D-26) also took the opportunity to resign to focus on her run for Congress. Over the next week and a half, which some are dubbing “spring break for lawmakers,” legislative leaders and the governor will likely redouble their efforts at budget negotiations, which so far have been happening only behind closed doors. Gov. Hobbs, House Speaker Toma and Senate President Petersen say they are meeting regularly, telling press they’re “optimistic” they’ll reach “bipartisan” agreement.
While we encourage bipartisanship to represent our politically diverse state, we know that this term can be a cover for forced negotiation that leaves the most vulnerable (including our public school students) far behind. Lawmakers must work within the dismal economic landscape Arizona faces: a surplus that will be completely gone by next year, massive tax cuts that leave us in the red, and hundreds of millions of dollars in unbudgeted costs for a universal ESA voucher program that’s rapidly spiraling out of control. If this session’s budget checks the bipartisanship box but ends with no significant progress on tackling these issues, that’s no budget at all.
It’s important for Arizona to know how our tax dollars are being spent, whether our students are learning, and whether our children are safe. This means adding desperately needed accountability to the ESA voucher program. But accountability on its own is not enough. Lawmakers must roll back this wildly irresponsible program before it bankrupts our state.