The two top Democrats in the Arizona Legislature are publicly blaming Republican leaders for derailing bipartisan talks over a school funding program that has operated for the past ten years, adding fresh tension to an already fractured state budget process.
Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-AZ) and House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos (D-AZ) went on the offensive this week, arguing that GOP lawmakers have effectively turned their backs on public school families by refusing to engage on a renewal of Proposition 123.
The voter-backed measure has channeled around $300 million each year into K-12 education, covering teacher compensation, support personnel, and classroom materials.
As the program is set to lapse, lawmakers must craft and approve a new version for voters to consider, something Democrats say Republicans are no longer willing to do.
"Actions speak louder than words, and they have walked away from the table," Sundareshan and De Los Santos wrote, accusing Republicans of being willing to abandon the families whose children attend public schools.
Additional Push Back
Beyond the Prop. 123 dispute, the Democratic leaders also pushed back against what they characterized as unchecked spending within the state's private school voucher program.
They pointed to purchases of luxury goods and international travel as evidence that stronger financial oversight is overdue, and said they are prepared to work with Republicans to tighten those controls.
Despite their frustration, Sundareshan and De Los Santos said they have not closed the door on reaching a deal.
Their statement called for genuine compromise from both parties, arguing that posturing has overshadowed the real work Arizona families are waiting for.
"Real negotiation requires both sides to show up, listen, and be willing to compromise," they said.
Amid Party Conflict
The statement arrives amid Arizona's broader budget discussions, which have ground to a halt.
Republican legislative leaders and Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) have each accused the other of abandoning the negotiating table, leaving the state's fiscal outlook unresolved as the coming weeks approach.
“Arizonans are counting on us, and they deserve better,” the statement concluded. “We are ready to deliver An Arizona We Can Afford."
