If you look up “failure” in the dictionary, it’s probably only a matter of time until you start seeing images of Katie Hobbs’ time as Governor of Arizona. Hobbs kicked off her reign back in January and immediately got off to a rocky start. After being in office for just over a month, Hobbs had her inauguration fund called into question, had her pick to lead the Arizona Democratic Party rejected, and was booed at the 16th Hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
If that wasn’t enough, Hobbs’ nominations for agency directors have been a complete disaster. Her pick to lead the Department of Health Services, Dr. Theresa Cullen, was rejected for her COVID imperialism. Her nominee for Housing Director was rejected due to a history of plagiarism. And she was forced to withdraw her nominee for Arizona Registrar of Contractors, former Democratic State Senator Martín Quezada, over his alliance with antisemitic extremism. It’s no wonder why Hobbs was listed as one of the least popular governors in the nation.
That’s probably why Hobbs is willing to do anything she can to get some good publicity, but her latest stunt was another misfire…and broke the law.
At the end of October, Hobbs tweeted out a message patting herself on the back for putting money back in the pockets of many Arizona families. Her administration then followed that up with a letter from the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) that directed families who would be receiving the tax rebate to the Governor’s website.
But there were a couple of problems.
The Arizona Families Tax Rebate Program was spearheaded by a group of Republican lawmakers known as the Arizona Freedom Caucus, and Hobbs wanted no part of it as it made its way through the legislature. On top of that, when SB1734 was passed and eventually signed by Hobbs, the bill included a line stating that no letter relating to the rebate should be sent from the Governor’s office, be sent on the Governor’s letterhead, or reference the Governor’s office.
Whoops…maybe Hobbs should use that private school education she received to actually read the bills she signs. Or maybe she’s just another Democrat opportunist looking to take credit for the work of Republicans.
The fact of the matter is that, before becoming Governor, Katie Hobbs had a history of opposing tax cuts for families while making it a habit to support multiple tax hikes. And the initial budget plan she released back in January was one big liberal wish list that would’ve required more money out of the pockets of Arizona taxpayers. But thankfully, the Republican-led legislature recognized that after three years of Democrat control of the federal government, Arizona families needed relief from the rising cost of gas, groceries, housing, and energy. So, at a time when the government has been flush with cash, they got to work on a structurally balanced budget that returns nearly $300 million to hardworking taxpayers.
It’s a great idea, which is probably why Katie Hobbs wants to take credit for it. But instead, she chose to break the law—hanging ADOR Director Robert Woods out to dry and leaving him potentially liable for $2 million in illegally spent funds, a 20 percent penalty, court costs, and attorneys’ fees. While Hobbs did eventually cave by editing the remaining tax rebate letters after Senator Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma sent her a cease-and-desist letter, the damage had already been done. And it’s just another failure in a year that’s been filled with them for Arizona’s Democrat Governor.
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