PHOENIX — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has withdrawn her nominations for department directors amid what she calls “a sad display of partisan obstructionism.”
In a letter dated Monday to the President of the Senate, Warren Petersen, Gov. Hobbs said she would be “pursuing other lawful avenues of ensuring State government can continue to function for Arizonans.”
Gov. Hobbs said, “there are nearly three times as many nominees waiting for your review than have been considered to date,” saying she would be “well into (her) second term before your political circus completes its job.”
She said the current process is “holding agencies that serve the people of Arizona hostage,” and “the Senate’s vetting process is not functioning as intended by law or tradition.”
Read the full letter here.
Arizona State President Warren Peterson said the newly formed GOP-Led confirmation committee aims to thoroughly vet each appointee. He said some nominees were hyper-partisan and incompetent.
“These agencies are critical. Businesses can be harmed, and citizens can be harmed if you have an incompetent or hyper-partisan person leading these agencies that’s why we have rejected just a few of them,” said Peterson.
“Due to the recent actions of the Governor, I did not recognize employees from the Arizona Department of Administration or the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions as legally participating members at today’s State Board of Investment meeting," Peterson said. "Yesterday’s decision by the Governor to pull the nominations of these cabinet-level positions has created chaos and confusion that is contrary to the orderly administration of government business. The absence of lawfully appointed directors of these two agencies creates legal uncertainty and jeopardizes the proceedings of the State Board of Investment.”
In a statement Monday, Gov Hobbs indicated a willingness to resume sending nominees for senate review if the former rules are returned.
