by Ethan Faverino | Dec 11, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona’s childcare system is in crisis, with the number of licensed providers plummeting nearly 50% since 2002, while costs have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many working families, according to a new report from the Common Sense Institute (CSI).
The state’s licensed childcare providers have fallen from 5,126 in 2002 to just 2,779 in 2024—a 46% decline that has driven up prices, lengthened waitlists, and left hundreds to thousands of Arizona children without access to formal care.
The report, Childcare in Arizona: An Economic Opportunity with Wide Implications, warns that without urgent policy action, the shortage will continue to push parents—predominantly mothers—out of the workforce and widen economic disparities across urban and rural communities.
Currently, Arizona ranks 6th in the country for infant care costs relative to median income. The state is behind California, Vermont, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.
Licensed facilities have dropped from 4,660 in 2010 to 2,687 in 2022 before a modest rebound to 2,779 in 2024, with closures accelerating to 9.2% annually between 2018 and 2022 due to COVID-era restrictions, labor shortages, and rising regulatory costs.
Arizona has only 256,267 licensed slots for 460,882 children under age 6. Rural counties like Santa Cruz barely have enough licensed capacity to support 1% of the infant population in the county.
“Even as demand remains high, the number of licensed providers has fallen sharply — limiting supply, driving up costs, and constraining labor force participation,” said Glenn Farley, Director of Policy and Research at CSI. “These pressures ripple through the broader economy, reducing productivity and household income. Based on our analysis, expanding access to affordable, quality care is not only good policy, but a necessary step for sustaining long-term economic growth in the state.”
The median daily cost of infant care now stands at $61.40, a 42.7% increase from $43.03 in 2018, requiring a minimum-wage worker to labor 72.8 hours per month just to afford one infant’s care.
Urban counties like Maricopa and Pima fare better than rural areas, yet shortages remain acute. In Maricopa County, infant slot coverage reaches 13%, and families need 37.6 hours at the average wage to afford care.
Childcare workers earn just $13.67 per hour—57 cents for every dollar the average Arizona worker makes, and per-capita employment in the sector has fallen from 1.5 to 0.8 workers per 1,000 residents since its peak.
CSI estimates that closing the childcare gap could bring 50,000 jobs into the workforce, boosting Arizona’s GDP by up to $17.5 billion and generating $188 million in new income tax revenue under a midpoint scenario.
“Costly, scarce childcare sidelines too many parents,” the report concludes. “Make it more available and affordable, and Arizona wins—more people working, higher incomes, and more state revenue.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona State Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) issued a warning to Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, demanding they stop blocking the release of SNAP program data required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain federal funding for Arizona’s food assistance program.
In a letter dated December 3, 2025, Rep. Kupper highlighted last week’s explicit statement from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that any state refusing to share SNAP data with the federal government will lose funding for the program.
The data is essential for verifying eligibility, preventing fraud, and ensuring taxpayer dollars reach only those who qualify. Arizona now joins a handful of states facing funding penalties due to the officials’ actions, which include an ongoing lawsuit by Attorney General Mayes to block the data release.
“Twenty-nine states said yes, not surprisingly, the red states, and that’s where all of that data, that fraud, comes from. But 21 states, including California, New York, and Minnesota – blue states – continue to say no,” said Rollins. “So as of next week, we have and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply, and they tell us and allow us to partner with them to root out this fraud and to protect the American taxpayer.”
Rep. Kupper’s letter emphasized that “political maneuvering” ahead of an election year must not endanger a program serving Arizona’s most vulnerable residents. He urged both Democratic leaders to “set aside the partisan divide and do the right thing.”
“Families who follow the rules and rely on SNAP to get through the week should not be put at risk because the Governor and Attorney General are choosing political fights,” Rep. Kupper said. “The federal government has made the requirement clear. If Arizona refuses to comply, our state risks losing SNAP funding altogether. That outcome would punish people who legitimately need help. Governor Hobbs and Attorney General Mayes should reverse course and release the data, so Arizona families are not left paying the price.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 8, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) has signed onto Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-FL) discharge petition to force a floor vote on H.R. 1908, the Restore Trust in Congress Act, legislation that would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading or owning individual stocks and other covered investments while in office.
The move comes amid growing bipartisan frustration over potential insider trading and conflicts of interest in Congress, with public polls showing overwhelming support for ending the practice. Rep. Crane, who has never traded stocks during his time in office, has long championed the reform as essential to restoring public trust.
“The American people overwhelmingly agree that Members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks while in office. Lawmakers who are privy to sensitive and non-public information should not have the ability to profit from their access,” said Rep. Crane. “I applaud Rep. Luna for taking initiative and leading the charge to end this corrupt practice in our nation’s capital. Republicans and Democrats alike should join forces and get this reform across the finish line.”
Introduced by Rep. Luna, H.R. 1908, would amend federal ethics law to bar covered individuals from purchasing, owning, or trading stocks, commodities, and similar investments, with limited exceptions for diversified mutual funds, U.S. Treasury securities, and certain occupational or inherited assets.
The bill imposes a 180-day divestment period for current lawmakers and 90 days for new ones, with penalties including a 10% fee on prohibited holdings and forfeiture of profits from violations.
“A discharge petition is the strongest tool we have to guarantee a vote on behalf of the American people, and it exists for moments exactly like this,” said Rep. Luna.
“This is one of the most popular, most supported issues in the entire country. Americans deserve a Congress that works for them, not for special interests or personal portfolios,” she added. “I look forward to working with every faction, every caucus, and every Member, Republican and Democrat, to finally get this over the finish line.”
The discharge petition, if successful, would bypass committee delays and bring the bill directly to the House floor under H. Res. 725, which waives procedural hurdles and limits debates to one hour.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 6, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) led a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joined by seven Republican colleagues, demanding the immediate denial of federal security clearance to New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani.
The lawmakers cite a documented, years-long pattern of extremist affiliations, anti-American rhetoric, and hostility toward law enforcement that they argue renders Mamdani unfit to access classified national security information.
“Mamdani has a well-established pattern of siding with extremists, undermining U.S. counterterrorism efforts, demonizing law enforcement, and legitimizing violent movements,” said Congressman Biggs. “He has spent years defending extremists, attacking American law enforcement, and aligning himself with individuals who praise terrorists. Putting classified material in his hands would be a direct threat to NYPD officers, federal agents, and the security of this country.”
The letter highlights a series of alarming actions and statements by Mamdani, including:
- Co-founding Students for Justice in Palestine, an organization that celebrated the October 7 Hamas massacre as a “historic win” and called for “armed confrontation.”
- Endorsing violent unrest, attending rallies promoting “resistance by any means necessary,” and defending the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” widely interpreted as a call for global violent uprisings.
- Undermining counterterrorism efforts by blaming the FBI for radicalizing al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki—a narrative often used by anti-American propagandists.
- Appearing alongside clerics who prayed for the annihilation of Israel’s supporters and praised Hamas fighters.
- Demonizing the NYPD, repeatedly labeling the department “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety,” while being arrested for disorderly conduct during a 2021 protest.
- Advocating to defund the NYPD, despite the mayoral role requiring close coordination with the department and federal law enforcement partners.
The lawmakers warn that granting clearance to Mamdani would jeopardize sensitive operations, expose classified information, and endanger frontline personnel. They noted an 8,000 percent surge in violence against ICE agents, arguing that Mamdani’s hostility toward immigration enforcement would further empower agitators and escalate risks to federal personnel.
“Security clearances are reserved for individuals who can be trusted with the nation’s most sensitive materials—a standard Mamdani doesn’t come close to meeting,” added Biggs. “His record is a bold red warning flag. DHS must reject his request without hesitation.”
The cosigners of the letter include Representatives Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Mary Miller (R-IL), Keith Self (R-TX), and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN).
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 5, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) has teamed up with Representative Susie Lee (D-NV-03) to introduce the bipartisan Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, legislation that would extend a vital federal grant program supporting large-scale water recycling projects across the Colorado River Basin and the Western United States.
The bill seeks to reauthorize the Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program for an additional five years, building on the success of the program originally established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Water is the lifeblood of Arizona,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani. “As we face worsening drought in Arizona, I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation, which will help Western communities, like Southern Arizona, bolster their conservation efforts through water recycling efforts.”
Arizona has solidified its position as a national leader in water recycling, reusing approximately 52% of its treated municipal wastewater—a rate that significantly outpaces most other states in the Colorado River Basin.
This achievement highlights the state’s proactive commitment to long-term water resilience amid persistent drought challenges. However, sustaining and expanding these efforts requires ongoing federal support.
The Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act will strengthen Arizona’s innovative approach, reinforcing its role as a model for sustainable water management across the West.
Rep. Lee emphasized the urgency of the measure amid persistent drought conditions. “We need to save every drop of water we can to combat the ongoing, drought-driven water crisis in Nevada and throughout the West. Large-scale water recycling works. That’s exactly why we need to reauthorize the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program as soon as possible. This critical program was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped get across the finish line. I look forward to seeing it reauthorized for another five years to continue delivering the water resources our communities need for our shared future.”
The program has proven to be essential for developing resilient water supplies that support population growth, economic expansion, and environmental protection.
“The Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program helps communities, states, and whole regions build long-term, reliable water supplies to enable population growth, support economic expansion, and protect the environment and public health,” said Bruno Pigott, Executive Director of the WateReuse Association. “WateReuse applauds Representatives Lee and Ciscomani for their leadership in ensuring that this critical program continues into the future.”
John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, highlighted the program’s impact on regional water security. “This federal funding remains critical to helping accelerate the development of recycled water systems on a scale that would not otherwise be possible,” Entsminger said. “This is a smart investment that improves water supply reliability for millions of Americans, while helping communities build resiliency and respond to drought conditions.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
