We are expecting more hits as Governor Hobbs prepares to unveil her budget proposal today. It will not be a surprise when she attempts to cut back educational freedom and expand abortion any way she can.
Governor Hobbs made it clear earlier this week that she is no fan of the popular Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program that allows all Arizona families to choose the best educational environment for their children. During her State of the State speech, she falsely claimed ESA parents are given a blank check. She said, “Now is the time to advocate for accountability and for transparency, not a blank check. If we fail to do so, the current projected price tag of one billion dollars is only the start.” Hobbs exaggerated the price tag and left out context; students with ESAs cost taxpayers half that of educating a student in public school. She also misrepresents ESA expenditures in an effort to paint a negative picture of ESA families. She went on to say, “It is our responsibility as stewards of this state to put in place guardrails to ensure taxpayer dollars dedicated to education are used properly. Without these guardrails, waste, fraud, and abuse take root and thrive.”
That sounds reasonable, but with very little evidence of true waste, fraud, and abuse, and only inuendo and out-of-context accusations, the comment serves only to promote anti-parent education policy. See here for a more detailed analysis of her plans to take control of private education via the ESA program.
Governor Hobbs’ hypocritical accusation that the ESA program lacks transparency falls flat, considering she opposes legislation to ensure public schools are transparent with parents when their child wants to “transition” to the opposite sex and be called a fake name or pronoun.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma countered Governor Hobbs’ threats with a video statement.
Speaker Toma said, “She continues her assault on Arizona parents using their own tax dollars to provide the best education possible through Republicans’ historic expansion of the universal school choice program. This program has garnered recognition for education excellence. I will not allow anything that will roll back or limit the ESA program.”
Governor Hobbs used an ironic motive when calling for the expansion of abortion in the state: Arizona families. She announced, “Now is the time we stand up for Arizona families … I believe that fighting for Arizona families is the foundation of what we do as elected officials. And I truly believe that fighting for Arizona families means defending every individual’s right to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions.” Standing up for Arizona families somehow means unrestricted abortion on-demand.
Governor Hobbs promotes and fundraises for the passage of an amendment that will greatly expand abortion and enshrine it into the state Constitution. She put it this way during her speech, “We deserve to make the personal decisions we deem best for ourselves and our families.” Although, as evident above, she does not feel the same way about parents making educational decisions for their families.
New Session New Opportunities
Today marks the end of the first week of the 2024 legislative session at the state Capitol. Hundreds of bills have already been filed and lawmakers are jockeying for position to head various House and Senate committees.
With a budget shortfall, an election year, and a slim pro-life, pro-family Legislature, we expect an interesting session. CAP’s policy team, including our new VP of Policy Greg Scott has had a productive first week. We are already spending a lot of time at the Capitol, reviewing every bill introduced to ascertain potential impact on our core issues of life, marriage and family, and religious freedom. In the coming weeks, we will share more of our legislative agenda. At that time, you will be able to follow the bills we support and oppose on our Bill Tracker.
ICYMI
- Read here how the Arizona Republic covered the official launch of the It Goes Too Far campaign against the proposed abortion amendment.
- Read here about how parents can immunize their children from bad ideas.
- Read here about a high profile Save Women’s Sports rally at a NCAA convention in Phoenix today.