by Matthew Holloway | Oct 8, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report on Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) from the Common Sense Institute (CSI) shows a robust jump in ESA enrollment of nearly 15,000 students since last year.
According to the detailed report, the school choice program has reached a milestone with 92,362 students enrolled as of September 15, 2025. Projections indicate that ESA numbers will reach 103,000 this fiscal year.
The report from CSI is released on a quarterly basis to address “a lack of reliable and consistent data about who is using the program and how.” CSI noted, “Applying scrutiny to hundreds of thousands of individual transactions on an almost real-time basis has made the program vulnerable to exaggeration, misinformation, and mischaracterization. No comparable program is subject to this kind of examination.”
The quarterly findings indicate the program is maturing from an initial stage of rapid growth to a more steady-state. Universal eligibility, rolled out in 2022, has fueled the fire, but the real story now is “switchers”—57% of new enrollees ditching public schools for tailored options like private academies, therapies, or homeschooling setups. The report underscores how shrinking school-age cohorts (down 20,241 since 2021) aren’t slowing the momentum.
Glenn Farley, Director of Policy & Research at CSI and the report’s author, explained, “Arizona’s ESA program is reaching a point of steady participation. The rapid expansion is behind us, and future growth will be shaped more by broader demographic trends and the choices families make across an increasingly competitive K–12 landscape.”
The key questions that CSI seeks to address include the ultimate cost of the program at full expansion, the steady-state count of how many people are using the ESA program, its ultimate extent, the demographic characteristics of its users, and the efficiency and good operation of the program.
CSI found that total ESA costs are on track to reach $1.0369 billion in FY 2026, with an average award of $10,349 per student. Notably, 88% of funds have already been spent, the highest percentage ever recorded. Administrative approval rates are at a peak of 88.8%, and reimbursements are processed in just 13 days on average, with a whopping 455,142 orders handled in the last quarter alone.
As far as budgetary impact is concerned, a common complaint from opponents like Governor Katie Hobbs, the CSI projects that “state K–12 Basic State Aid costs will exceed appropriations by $35 million in FY 2026, due largely to higher ESA participation and lower-than-expected district enrollment.”
The report also offers a firm, authoritative rebuke to allegations that the program is most used by “the wealthy.”
“Nearly 57% of ESA recipients live in ZIP Codes with a median family income of between $75,000 and $150,000 – up slightly since our last report. A quarter of ESA users may be lower-income, 13% reside in rural areas, and nearly 20% are estimated to be nonwhite,” the report states.
Farley concluded the CSI report’s findings, writing, “Administrative reform throughout 2025 by the Department of Education has improved various high-level metrics: the Department is approving purchases faster and at greater volume and embracing its statutory authority (risk-based auditing, Handbook language noting use-tests for technology purchases and not limiting the purchases directly, etc.). However, the ESA environment often remains narrative rather than fact driven. We remind users: ESA enrollment costs are offset by reduced enrollment in other K-12 programs; ESA misuse rates are lower than comparable programs; ESA growth is slowing and increasingly driven by students switching from traditional public options.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 8, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is pressing the state’s U.S. Senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, to support measures to reopen the federal government, saying the ongoing shutdown is causing widespread harm to residents and the state’s economy.
Petersen criticized the two Democratic senators for what he described as “playing politics” and siding with “the left fringe” instead of joining a bipartisan coalition to keep the government funded. According to Petersen, both Kelly and Gallego opposed a stopgap spending bill that would have temporarily extended funding and avoided a lapse in government operations.
“This shutdown is not about helping Arizonans — it’s about defending unpopular priorities,” Petersen said. “Kelly and Gallego need to stop bowing to the radical left, put Arizona families first, and vote to reopen the government immediately.”
The shutdown, now stretching into its second week, has left thousands of Arizona residents facing financial uncertainty. State Republicans estimate that Arizona’s gross state product is losing about $296 million per week due to the disruption. Other reported impacts include:
- Roughly 58,000 federal employees in Arizona either furloughed or working without pay.
- Delayed Social Security benefits for seniors and others relying on timely checks.
- Frozen loan distributions from the Small Business Administration.
- Closures of national parks, including the Grand Canyon, straining tourism-dependent communities.
Petersen also warned that the shutdown is hitting families, small businesses, and retirees especially hard, compounding an already challenging economic environment. For now, Petersen said he will continue to urge Arizona’s federal delegation to prioritize ending the impasse. “This is about more than numbers on a spreadsheet. Real people are hurting, and every day the shutdown continues, that harm grows deeper,” he said.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 7, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
State Senator Carine Werner is escalating her oversight push against Arizona’s Medicaid agency, AHCCCS, after a tense committee hearing revealed what she called “catastrophic failures” in the state’s health care system.
As chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, Werner convened an October 1 hearing that uncovered widespread fraud, lapses in oversight, and significant coverage disruptions for vulnerable Arizonans. Lawmakers heard testimony that outlined nearly $2.8 billion in estimated fraud, more than 140,000 unenrollments since September 2024, and deep impacts on Native American communities.
“This is about far more than numbers on a page—it’s about lives shattered and trust broken,” Werner said after the hearing. “Families lost coverage, providers were driven out by retaliation and red tape, and patient brokers were allowed to exploit Arizonans in need. We cannot allow the Governor’s state agencies to hide behind vague answers.”
Witnesses described fraudulent brokers shifting patients from Medicaid into federally subsidized marketplace plans, leaving families at risk of losing access to necessary care. Providers also reported delayed or denied payments that have forced some to close their practices, while law enforcement confirmed that just 91 arrests have been made despite widespread patient brokering schemes.
The committee also heard that Native American communities have been disproportionately affected by lapses in Medicaid coverage, with families struggling to find replacement providers or navigate bureaucratic hurdles.
In response, the committee issued a formal list of follow-up questions to AHCCCS. Lawmakers are seeking precise information on how many licensed behavioral health providers are actively serving patients, what actions are being taken to restore access to care in Native American communities, how much taxpayer money has been lost and recovered, and whether AHCCCS has held staff accountable for oversight failures.
Werner stressed that the requests are non-negotiable. “Governor Hobbs and AHCCCS owe Arizona’s taxpayers and families straight answers. The days of vague promises are over. This committee expects deliverables that prove action is being taken.”
The committee has given AHCCCS 30 days to provide a full set of responses and supporting data. A follow-up hearing is scheduled within 45 days, where lawmakers will publicly review the agency’s progress.
“Arizona deserves a health care system that protects the vulnerable instead of enabling fraud,” Werner said. “We will keep pressing until every loophole is closed, every fraudulent actor is held accountable, and every Arizonan can access care without fear of exploitation.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Oct 7, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) expressed his gratitude to Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, for his tireless efforts to uncover the misuse of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Quiet Skies Program.
The program, intended as a security measure, has been revealed to target Americans, including Hamadeh, in what Senator Paul described as “an unconstitutional dystopian nightmare masquerading as a security tool.”
Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer with Top-Secret clearance and a former Maricopa County prosecutor, was shocked to learn he was among those targeted by the Biden administration through this program.
“I am disappointed but not surprised that the Biden Administration used TSA’s Quiet Skies rules to target me while I was serving this nation in the U.S. Army Reserves and as a prosecutor in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office”, said Hamadeh. “My dedication to this nation and its security has never been questioned.”
According to a flash report released by Senator Paul prior to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday, September 30th, the Quiet Skies program and related watchlists were used to surveil Americans, including three Republican lawmakers, shortly after they engaged in political activities such as opposing the Biden administration’s policies.
The report further revealed that at least two dozen Americans were placed on watchlists for actions like protesting mask mandates or removing masks on flights.
Following January 6, 2021, TSA issued directives authorizing watchlists based solely on suspected travel to Washington, D.C., without evidence of unlawful conduct. Hamadeh, who questioned the integrity of Arizona’s 2022 General Election during his candidacy, noted the personal impact of this surveillance: “Because I naturally questioned the validity of the election in 2022, Democrats hurled epithets and implied that I was a threat to our democracy. When in fact, I have done and will continue to do all I can to protect and defend our Republic.”
The congressman also noted that he was targeted alongside Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a fellow veteran and former congresswoman.
“The corrupt system targets those whom they fear the most,” stated Hamadeh. “It is clear evidence that this program was used to target critics of Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats, who have demonstrated a blatant disregard for our civil liberties and spit on our cherished Constitution.”
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that the Quiet Skies program has failed to prevent a single terrorist attack since its start, raising further questions about its effectiveness and purpose.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Six Arizona GOP House members—Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Abe Hamadeh, and David Schweikert—urged Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego in a letter to “do the right thing” by backing H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
In the letter, the congressmen told Sens. Kelly and Gallego, “Every single one of us voted for this seven-week, clean continuing resolution when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 19th. This same kind of resolution, with no partisan extraneous policy riders, has garnered bipartisan support routinely in the past.” They also stated that the funding levels called for are precisely those that both Kelly and Gallego have supported in the past.
The congressmen explained, “Our goal in passing this bill was quite simple: keep the government open and functioning for all those who depend on it for a paycheck, and the critical services that our federal government provides. Our state is home to ten military installations, over 34,000 federal civilian employees, approximately 20,000 active-duty service members, over 450,000 veterans, and countless additional federal entities.
“Senate Democrats, yourselves included, are making unrelated policy demands that have nothing to do with government funding. It is far past time to stop holding Arizonans hostage and to put the American people first. Our constituents demand that you stop playing political games with their livelihoods.”
Ciscomani wrote via X, “Arizona’s House Republicans are united — and we’re calling on Arizona’s Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to stop playing politics and prioritize Arizonans.”
In a statement on Monday, Rep. Crane added, “Last month, the House of Representatives passed a funding extension to prevent a government shutdown. Unfortunately, Senators Kelly and Gallego have repeatedly voted against this approach. A prolonged shutdown harms Arizonans, with many federal employees furloughed or working without pay. I urge our senators to back this sensible measure and help end the government shutdown.”
Hamadeh’s office also offered a statement in support via X writing, “Congressman Hamadeh is proud to stand with his Arizona Congressional Republican colleagues in demanding that Kelly and Gallego start putting Arizonans’ interests over Chuck Schumer’s.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 6, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A varied coalition of political voices will be the newest contributors to the Arizona Republic opinions page.
Those joining as representatives of the center and the right are former Maricopa County recorder Stephen Richer, former state lawmaker Paul Boyer, and Goldwater Institute vice president Timothy Sandefur.
Those joining from the left are Navajo Nation member and founder and director of Arizona Native Vote Jaynie Parrish, and the founder, CEO, and board chair of Aliento Reyna Montoya.
Since losing reelection to the recorder’s office, former Maricopa County recorder Stephen Richer has joined multiple leftist organizations including: States United Democracy Center (board member), State Democracy Defenders Fund (board member), and Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center Reimagining Democracy Program (senior fellow). Last year, Richer announced his intention to vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump.
Goldwater Institute leader Timothy Sandefur’s latest opinion urges for laws to come from Congress again, not presidential dictate, citing former President Joe Biden’s executive order prohibiting farming and mining on one million acres of northern Arizona land and President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Sandefur was previously a litigator with the Pacific Legal Foundation.
Both Richer and Sandefur are adjunct scholars with the Cato Institute.
While in the legislature, former state lawmaker Paul Boyer maintained his stance as an independent among Republicans. Boyer introduced the bill that successfully became law allowing in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal immigrant students. Boyer also consistently stood against the Republican flock when it came to supporting election integrity bills.
Boyer maintains he left the legislature following death threats for his resistance to election legislation advanced by fellow Republicans. Presently, he teaches Latin at Heritage Academy Schools.
Both Boyer and Richer were on the board of Save Democracy Arizona, a now-defunct nonprofit that aimed to make primary elections nonpartisan through a ballot initiative.
Boyer made an unsuccessful run for Glendale mayor last year.
Arizona Native Vote leader Jaynie Parrish was previously the executive director for Navajo County Democrats and social media manager for abortion activist group EMILY’s List. Arizona Native Vote runs ballot curing, voter registration, and voter education campaigns. Like Richer, Parris attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Parrish has made clear the goal is to mobilize Native American voters for Democratic candidates.
“We are fighting against structures that weren’t built for us. They weren’t meant for us there. They were trying to kill us all. We’re not supposed to be here,” Parrish said. “We’re not supposed to be voters.”
Parrish’s latest opinion piece advocated for voter reform benefiting tribal communities.
The nonprofit led by Montoya, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), provides illegal immigrants with plans to counter immigration enforcement efforts and resources to evade immigration enforcement. Montoya received seed money from George Soros’ Open Society Institute.
Montoya was 10 years old when her mother smuggled her from Tijuana, Mexico, into the state. Montoya has expressed concerns that she will be deported under Trump.
Montoya worked closely alongside Boyer for the passage of in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal immigrants.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
