When Bipartisanship Meets a Budget Crisis in Arizona
Dina I -
I think now is the perfect time to transition from discussing partisanship to bipartisanship with the recent bill that passed the AZ House. House Bill 2945, with a 48-11 vote, works to secure essential funding for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).
Some context:
The DDD, responsible for providing services to nearly 60,000 Arizonans with developmental disabilities, faced a $122 million budget shortfall. A large contributor to this deficit was the Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) program, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow parents to be compensated for caring for their children with disabilities. As federal funding declined, the state struggled to sustain the program amid rising costs.
As the funding deadline approached, tensions escalated within the Capitol. Democratic Rep. Julie Willoughby proposed a bipartisan amendment to secure the necessary funds. However, Republican leadership in the House Appropriations Committee added three GOP members just before the vote, tipping the vote and causing the amendment to fail 11-10. AP News+4 Arizona Mirror+4KJZZ+4KJZZ
This move didn’t land very well with the other half of the House, with critics accusing Republicans of undermining bipartisan efforts. Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson) advocated in disappointment, explaining the missed opportunity for collaboration.
Governor Katie Hobbs responded by threatening to veto all legislation until a funding solution was reached, highlighting the situation’s urgency.
A Turning Point:
The impasse was broken through a series of compromises that satisfied both parties: Republicans gained fiscal safeguards, while Democrats ensured the continuation of the original services.
Result: A Bipartisan Victory
The revised bill passed the House with a 48-11 vote and was immediately signed into law by Governor Hobbs. The resolution of this funding crisis highlights the bureaucratic measures necessary to ensure bipartisanship and efficient government.
Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll compare bipartisanship on a state and a federal level!
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