by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 23, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new dispute erupted at the Arizona State Capitol on Thursday after Senator J.D. Mesnard (R-LD13), chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, accused Governor Katie Hobbs of misleading the public with an executive order tied to federal tax changes enacted earlier this year.
In a press release, Mesnard said Hobbs’ order directing the Arizona Department of Revenue to update state tax forms “blatantly misleads the public” by implying that her administration was delivering new tax relief. According to Mesnard, the changes she referenced were already established under H.R. 1, a federal tax reform package advanced by former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.
Hobbs’ order, he argued, does not create any new state-level reductions. “Middle-class families deserve honesty, not last-minute attempts to steal credit for others’ hard work,” Mesnard said, asserting that Hobbs was attempting to claim political ownership of reforms she opposed. He noted that Democrats in Congress uniformly voted against the federal tax package and that—despite the governor’s framing—the adjustments she cited are already federal law.
Mesnard also criticized the order on procedural grounds, calling it inappropriate for a governor to “direct” the Department of Revenue’s handling of state tax policy. He said such authority rests with the Legislature.
The senator added that Republicans plan to advance legislation next session to formally align Arizona’s tax code with the federal reforms and expand on them where possible. But he warned that Hobbs’ order could create “uncertainty and chaos” for taxpayers in the meantime.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 19, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona political figures gathered under the canopy of two Apache helicopters on display Thursday at Boeing’s manufacturing complex in northeast Mesa, near Falcon Field Airport. The event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the attack helicopter’s first flight, which occurred on September 30, 1975.
It drew current and former Boeing employees in matching beige t-shirts emblazoned with the Apache hovering and key statistics on the back—an homage to what Boeing employees and leaders described as the “best damn attack helicopter in the world,” according to Cronkite News.
In a statement issued by the Arizona Senate Republican Caucus, Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll marked the anniversary by praising the program and its workforce.
“It’s an honor to stand with the dedicated Arizonans and military personnel who have helped make the Apache a global symbol of excellence,” Carroll remarked. “For 50 years, this aircraft has protected American lives and advanced our national security, and I’m proud to support the men and women who ensure it remains the best in the world.”
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs addressed the gathering as well, saying: “The fact that there are so many elected officials here from both sides of the aisle demonstrates our commitment to the future of the Apache program here in Arizona.”
Among the public figures present were Congressmen Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), as well as Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman. Stanton told the gathered crowd, “The Apache didn’t just fly, it soared and it took Mesa with it. The city is a hub for aerospace and defense manufacturing, anchored by great companies like Boeing,” per Chamber Business News.
Boeing Attack Helicopter Programs Vice President and Mesa Site Executive Christina Upah reported that nearly 3,000 Apache aircraft have been produced in Mesa, with more than 1,300 in operation around the world. Over the past five years, Hobbs noted, more than 60 expansions in Arizona’s aerospace and defense sector have generated more than $2.8 billion in investment and more than 12,000 jobs.
US Army Lt. Col. John Holcomb, commander at the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Vertical Lift Mesa, who manages production of the Apache alongside the AH-6i Light Attack and Reconnaissance Helicopter, and the MD-530 Cayuse Warrior helicopter, said: “Looking around this facility, I’m reminded that while the name on the buildings may have changed, the mission has remained constant. To deliver the best damn attack helicopter in the world.”
While the event was celebratory, it came against a backdrop of broader pressures facing Arizona’s aerospace and manufacturing sectors—and renewed bipartisan interest in preserving the state’s five-decade role in Apache production. The helicopter’s global impact also loomed large, with its widespread adoption by the U.S. Army and by 16 allied nations, including the U.K., Israel, Japan, and South Korea, per KJZZ.
During the event, Stanton even threw a proverbial nod to Biggs, quipping: “We don’t always agree, Andy, but on this one, we’re together,” citing the Congressmen’s past cooperation on legislation to support Apache production.
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 | Nov 18, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro has formed a new advisory team to investigate allegations that Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration awarded a lucrative contract increase to a politically connected group home provider, raising fresh questions about influence and accountability inside the Department of Child Safety (DCS).
The move follows reporting by The Arizona Republic that Sunshine Residential Homes received a 30% rate increase after contributing more than $400,000 to Hobbs and Democratic political committees. According to documents cited in the reporting, other group home providers seeking similar adjustments were denied. Internal communications reportedly show DCS staff discussing the provider’s political connections to the governor and suggesting the increase be kept quiet from competing organizations.
The revelations come as DCS faces a budget shortfall and has been under pressure to reduce reliance on group home placements, making the agency’s decision to grant a significant rate hike particularly notable. Speaker Montenegro said the advisory team will conduct a legislative investigation to assemble facts, coordinate with law-enforcement agencies, and evaluate possible actions the House may take to prevent preferential treatment in state contracting.
“The facts reported raise serious questions the House cannot ignore,” Montenegro said in a statement. “Arizona’s children, families, and taxpayers deserve a system that is clean, fair, and focused on care, not political access or donations.”
The speaker also directed state agencies and contractors to preserve all relevant records and to cooperate fully with the Legislature. The advisory panel includes several senior lawmakers including Rep. Selina Bliss, Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee; Rep. David Livingston, Chair of House Appropriations; Rep. Matt Gress, Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee; Rep. Quang Nguyen, Chair of House Judiciary; and Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter.
The investigation builds on earlier legislative efforts to probe the relationship between Sunshine Residential Homes and the Hobbs administration. In 2024, Rep. Matt Gress requested investigations by the Maricopa County Attorney and the Auditor General following the first reports linking the provider to political contributions and favorable treatment. Rep. David Livingston separately urged Attorney General Kris Mayes to recuse herself, citing concerns about conflicts of interest involving the governor and the Democratic Party.
The House advisory team is expected to begin its work immediately and will coordinate with any parallel investigations by the Auditor General, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, or the Attorney General. Montenegro said lawmakers will “secure the records, ask the hard questions, and, if necessary, change the law to ensure it never happens again.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 17, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Newly surfaced documents and internal communications are raising new questions about political influence inside the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), prompting calls for accountability from legislative leaders. Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope is urging state and county prosecutors to provide an immediate update on whether investigations into the matter remain active.
The controversy centers on Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home provider that recently received a 30% rate increase from DCS. The company has been a significant donor to Governor Katie Hobbs and multiple Democratic political groups—connections that agency employees reportedly flagged as a source of concern.
According to internal messages and financial records reviewed by lawmakers, DCS staff expressed discomfort with the approval process for the rate hike. Employees referenced Sunshine Residential’s political ties to the Governor and suggested the situation placed agency leaders in an “uncomfortable position,” particularly after the provider allegedly pressured the state by threatening to shift services to the federal system unless the increase was approved.
Despite warnings that the higher rate would deepen an already-projected $13 million budget shortfall, DCS moved forward with the decision. Documents also show Sunshine Residential cited a substantial financial deficit to justify its request. However, financial records reportedly indicate the provider had $440,000 in operating income—figures that independent accounting experts said appeared inconsistent with the claimed shortfall.
These discrepancies have intensified questions about whether political considerations influenced decisions affecting vulnerable children in state care. In a letter sent Thursday to Attorney General Kris Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Shope requested confirmation that any investigations into the potential “pay-to-play” conduct are ongoing. He also asked prosecutors to update the Legislature on the status of their reviews.
“These revelations are deeply disturbing,” Shope said. “If a provider donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Governor then pressures the state for a massive rate increase—and receives it—Arizonans deserve to know whether political influence played a role.”
Shope emphasized that the issue extends beyond partisan lines. “This is not a partisan issue—it’s a public trust issue,” he said. “If political donations influenced decisions inside DCS, especially decisions involving vulnerable children, that is unacceptable. We intend to get to the bottom of this.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s top elected leaders — Democrats and Republicans alike — have joined forces to demand federal action after the seven Colorado River Basin states missed a critical deadline to finalize post-2026 water-sharing rules. In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, they warned that refusal by upper basin states to commit to verifiable conservation has pushed the negotiations to a breaking point.
The letter, dated November 11, 2025, highlights Arizona’s role as a leader in water conservation and criticizes upper basin states for refusing to commit to verifiable reductions, which the signatories say have stalled a seven-state agreement needed to sustain the river amid ongoing droughts.
The seven Colorado River Basin states—four in the upper basin (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) and three in the lower basin (Arizona, California, Nevada)—missed a federal deadline on November 11th to submit a consensus plan for sharing water shortages after 2026, when current operating guidelines expire. Federal officials, including the Bureau of Reclamation, have urged the states to reach an accord to avoid potential court intervention or unilateral action by the Trump administration.
In the letter, the Arizona leaders commended Burgum’s efforts over the past year to develop a framework preserving the century-old 1922 Colorado River Compact, which allocates water among the states. They emphasized the river’s critical role in fueling Arizona’s advanced technology ecosystem, world-class agriculture, military bases, and communities home to millions, including 22 of the basin’s 30 Native American tribes.
“Arizona’s cutting-edge semiconductor industries and IT infrastructure are making it possible for the onshoring of manufacturing operations that are critical for maintaining American technological leadership,” the letter states. It notes that Yuma County, one of the world’s most sophisticated agricultural regions, produces over 90% of the winter leafy greens supplied to the United States and Canada each year.
The signatories stressed that Arizona’s allocation is vital not only to the state’s citizens but to national economic growth and independence. They warned that the upper basin states’ refusal to offer “meaningful, verifiable conservation commitments” over the last two years risks these foundations of growth.
Arizona has positioned itself as a basin-wide leader in water efficiency, the letter asserts, partnering with California and Nevada to propose creative and significant post-2026 operating criteria. Under most scenarios, Arizona’s plans would conserve 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year, representing more than 27% of the state’s entitlement in most years. This follows more than 3 million acre-feet in efficiencies already offered by the lower basin states since 2023 to stabilize Lakes Mead and Powell.
In contrast, the letter points out that upper basin states have repeatedly refused to implement any volume of binding, verifiable upper basin reductions. “This extreme negotiating posture—four of the seven Basin States refusing to participate in any sharing of water shortages—has led to a fundamental impasse that is preventing successful development of a 7-State consensus plan for management of the Colorado River,” it reads.
The group urged Burgum to use his authority to ensure that any alternative considered by the Department of the Interior “contains measurable and enforceable conservation requirements” for the upper basin, guaranteeing the resource remains available for Arizona’s contributions to the economy and national security.
Signatories to the letter include Governor Katie Hobbs (D), Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-LD18), and House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos (D-LD11).
A joint statement from the seven states and federal officials acknowledged the missed deadline. Still, it affirmed a shared recognition of the basin’s challenges, with negotiators committing to continuing talks despite the setback. Lake Mead’s surface elevation stood at 1,057 feet as of recent measurements, with commenters noting that’s just 37 feet above levels that could trigger a “devastating” crisis for Arizona, including potential mandatory cuts to urban and agricultural users.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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.
