A long process, which included weeks of negotiations, came to an end on Saturday when Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bipartisan budget package. Hobbs passed the budget two weeks ahead of the June 30 deadline, preventing a state government shutdown.
Notably, the package doesn’t include any guardrails on the more than $1B universal school voucher program. This program came under fire following reports of parents using voucher money to purchase household appliances and lingerie.
After a deal between Republicans and the Arizona Education Association over school voucher reforms broke down, GOP members in both state chambers forced through a ballot referral that could nullify a voter initiative designed to rein in Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program.
While the ballot referral pledges to protect ESA funds for military families, it also contains a clause invalidating the Protect Education initiative if both measures are approved by voters in November.
Howie Fischer, chief correspondent at Capitol Media Services, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the ways this package affects Arizonans.
