By Daniel Stefanski |
With the start of the 2024 Arizona legislative session just weeks away, Republicans took time this week to roll out their agenda for the upcoming months in a divided state government.
The plan, released by the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday, featured eleven categories for 2024 – budget approach, inflation relief, law enforcement & military, education, water, infrastructure, health, government, judiciary, elections, and litigation. The caucus looked back at the year that was in 2023, writing, “Senate Republicans unified in the face of divided government, passed a fiscally conservative and responsible budget historically early in the legislative session, provided inflation relief, funded critical infrastructure projects, protected school choice, and served as a check on executive and federal overreach.”
Senate Republicans also previewed their efforts for the next legislative session in the plan, stating that they would “remain laser focused on easing the burden of rising costs for our citizens, while continuing to stop dangerous California-style policies from being implemented in the Grand Canyon State.” They added that they would “remain unified in protecting freedoms and constitutional rights, advocating for family values and safe communities, promoting free market principles and limited government, and stopping radical ideologies from infiltrating the way of life and opportunities we’ve established over the past decade for all Arizonans.”
‘Unified’ was definitely a key theme Senate Republicans wanted readers to take away from their plan for 2024, as it was central to a successful 2023 despite razor-thin majorities in both legislative chambers and a Democrat in the Governor’s Office. Republicans in both the Arizona House and Senate were highly disciplined on a number of fronts throughout the 2023 legislative session, staying unified on almost every issue while relentlessly fighting for conservative principles. Because of their cohesive strategies, Republicans were able to gain major victories and concessions from Governor Katie Hobbs when it mattered most, as well as to win points with the general public for their work.
2024 promises to be a more challenging year for legislative Republicans. Hobbs will be starting her second year on the job and has a new chief of staff who is respected by many on both sides of the aisle. Hobbs will also be looking for more wins to showcase for her base in what will certainly be a volatile election year on all levels. The governor was soundly criticized by many in her party for, what appeared to be, a capitulation to Republicans over the most-recent budget compromise – especially when it came to Arizona’s historic school choice program. Hobbs spent the rest of the year taking critical and damaging aim at ESAs.
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope cheered on the plan, saying, “Honored to be a part of the Arizona Senate Republicans family! We will work hard to deliver for the hard working people of Arizona!”
Senator Anthony Kern shared similar sentiments: “Republicans have your back, Arizona, and will ensure State 48 ‘NEVER’ looks like Democrat controlled California!!”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
