Hobbs’ office said the GOP is focused on ‘playing games’ and not actually governing
Photo and story by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy || Arizona Mirror
Republicans moved to create a new committee Thursday that aims to “evaluate executive nominations,” setting the stage for a major political battle between Gov. Katie Hobbs and Senate Republicans.
The new panel, which exists solely to consider the people Hobbs appoints to lead dozens of state agencies, will be led by Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican who heads up the Arizona Freedom Caucus.
That group, which was formed last year, is modeled on the far-right U.S. House Freedom Caucus that aims to push ultra-conservative policies outside of the regular GOP policy agenda. Earlier this year, the Arizona Freedom caucus said it planned to sue Hobbs over her use of executive orders, although no lawsuit has materialized yet.
“Now, make no mistake, this is a check on executive authority but that is exactly what the legislature is supposed to do,” Hoffman said Thursday on the Senate floor, adding that Hobbs has only sent the Senate information on two of her 25 appointees.
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