SE Arizona News

Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman expressed his disappointment in Governor Katie Hobbs' recent actions. Hobbs decided to withdraw her nominations for several state agency directors from Senate consideration, a move that has sparked controversy and accusations from both sides.

Hoffman criticized Hobbs, saying, "Hobbs has made it abundantly clear that she has no intention of working constructively with the Legislature the voters gave her." He accused her of throwing "petulant temper tantrums" when she doesn't get her way and expressed his disappointment but not surprise at her actions.

Hobbs, on the other hand, alleges that the Senate intentionally delayed the consideration of her nominees. She sent a letter to Senate President Warren Peterson, accusing the Committee on Nominations, chaired by Hoffman, of conducting an improper review of her nominations. According to Hobbs' letter, she places the primary blame on Hoffman and asserts that the entire process is unlawful. She also declares her intention to "pursue other lawful means of ensuring the state government can work for Arizonans."

The Republican majority in the Senate has the power to reject the governor's director nominees, and they argue that Hobbs is acting unlawfully, deeming her nominees unworthy of consideration. The nominations committee recently rejected Hobbs' choice to lead the Arizona Department of Housing, citing plagiarism allegations. This rejection has sparked tension between the Democratic Governor and the Republican majority. However, the nominations committee had previously given its approval to Hobbs' choices to head other departments, such as the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections.

The withdrawn nominees were intended for various agencies, including lottery, tourism, environmental quality, insurance and financial institutions, gaming, housing, child safety, veteran services, and more. These nominees will now assume the role of executive deputy directors, a position they can hold for up to a year without confirmation, or until the Senate decides to "return to the regular order of confirming nominees," according to Hobbs' letter.

President Petersen responded to Hobbs' letter, saying, "This move by the Executive Branch showcases another prime example of an elected official who believes they're above the law and will go to extreme measures to bypass the requirements of the law when they don't get their way." He expressed concern about the legality of decisions made by state agencies without directors and suggested that litigation against the state would likely prevail.

Chairman Hoffman also released a statement, accusing Hobbs of weaponizing the government of Arizona to enact her "extreme far-left agenda." He criticized her for nominating partisans and ideologues instead of highly qualified, non-partisan individuals. Hoffman placed the blame on Hobbs for her nominees struggling to succeed and accused her of not doing her homework prior to making her nominations.

The tension between Governor Hobbs and the Republican-controlled Senate continues as both sides accuse each other of acting unlawfully and prioritize their own agendas. The fate of the agency director positions remains uncertain as the political battle plays out.