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 Matthew Holloway | Nov 24, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Andy Biggs has called out Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs for “blatant hypocrisy” after she publicly pitched the benefits of the federal Working Families Tax Cut, a policy she previously denounced as a “betrayal.”
In a statement released Thursday, Biggs said Hobbs is “shamelessly” attempting to attach herself to a Republican-driven tax package that she vocally opposed earlier this year.
“After calling the Working Families Tax Cut a ‘betrayal,’ Katie Hobbs now shamelessly wants to take credit for the tax cuts passed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans,” Biggs said. The congressman provided links to her July comments to Fox10 in which the Governor stated:
“This bill is a betrayal of working families, children, and seniors in Arizona who will lose their healthcare, their ability to put food on the table, and good-paying jobs, all to give tax cuts to the people who are already billionaires while ballooning our national debt by $3.4 trillion.”
Biggs argued that despite Hobbs’ prior opposition, Republicans “successfully delivered tax relief to working-class Arizonans and seniors who are being hurt by the rising energy costs of Hobbs’ progressive, green energy agenda.”
On X, Biggs highlighted Hobbs’ recent promotion of her own “Middle Class Tax Cuts Package,” which includes bigger deductions, tax relief for seniors, and exemptions on taxes for tips, overtime, and new car loan interest.
Hobbs, who recently launched her 2026 reelection bid, has highlighted the tax cut in campaign messaging and controversially billed her events as “Arizona First” rallies, as noted by Capitol Media. Biggs asserted that the move reflects political weakness within her own party.
“Even her fellow Democrats are calling her ‘weak’ because they know the truth just like Arizonans do: Katie Hobbs has failed our state, and now she’s trying to cover it up by taking credit for Republican victories,” he said citing an op-ed from AZ Mirror.
The Working Families Tax Cut, a component of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” championed by President Donald Trump, Biggs, and other House Republicans, expanded credits for lower- and middle-income households and included relief provisions for seniors. Hobbs criticized the measure during negotiations, calling it fiscally irresponsible and siding with Democrats who argued it favored Republican priorities.
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 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.
