Wrap Up with Speaker Ben Toma

The Arizona Legislature just ended a 160-day session where lawmakers faced a nearly $2 billion shortfall. Operating under a divided government with a Republican-controlled Legislature and a Democratic governor, legislation often needed to be bipartisan to get Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signature. In a recent interview with the Arizona Capitol Times , House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, who is running for Congress in the 8th Congressional District, discussed the recent session and reflected on his two years as speaker.

The questions and answers have been edited lightly for style and clarity.

What were the biggest successes of the session?

I think first and foremost, the budget. This year was very different because of the fact that for the first time in a long time, most of us weren’t here in years where we had a shortfall instead of a surplus of some kind. Now, having two years of good budgets done that were fiscally sound, that were structurally balanced. It's a very important milestone, and I think it should be celebrated.

With the budget, what are the biggest wins for you in it?

The structurally sound part is very important, because that is something that I know that I personally care about and so does the rest of the caucus. We didn't use any budget gimmicks. We didn't touch the rainy day fund huge win. We cut agencies which we haven't been able to do in a long time and I actually think it's a healthy thing. Small business owners have to do it all the time. We also protected public safety. Protecting school choice was a big deal and we did that. It was just a good, solid, budget.

Do you think there’s any chance of a special session for groundwater?

I don't know if I would ever say no right from the beginning. But I will say that in order for that to happen, you have to actually have something substantive in terms of an agreement. Until I see that, I'm going to remain skeptical about a special session.

With the border ballot measure, are you concerned at all with the legal challenge it’s facing? What makes you confident that it satisfies the single-subject rule?

That is the one single issue that I heard about more than anything else. For better or worse, the Democrats seem to want an open border type of situation. One critique that I have with the governor is the only thing that she's done to my knowledge of any substance is to ask the federal government for more money to deal with the issue, which is effectively to advertise to the world to come over illegally. This was something that was discussed at length with our attorneys that are experts in this matter as well as other attorneys that are experts in this matter. It's pretty clear that everything in there is border related. So I think we're going to be just fine.

What’s the next step for Republicans with the abortion issue?

I'm not sure that we go anywhere other than to defeat the ridiculous one (measure) that's on the ballot. They're describing it as a 24-week, but really it's an abortion on demand at any time. It’s unconscionable regardless of how you feel about abortion. I don't think most people were willing to defend partial birth abortions or abortions well into the third trimester. So now looking at what's actually the law of the land and it is the 15-week now. That's very reasonable and I think all of us should be focused on making sure that we defeat that awful opportunity at the ballot.

There were many vetoes from her this year but not as many as last year. Was there any improvement operating under a divided government?

On policy issues, there was largely little to no communication from the Ninth Floor in terms of where they stood on something. I think the reason there were less vetoes really had to do more with the fact that Republicans in general didn't feel like throwing up bills that were just going to get vetoed. I think it's just maybe acceptance of the new normal, which is that there really isn't much of a policy vision from the Ninth Floor.

A lot of members were hoping for the potential renewal for Proposition 123. What can you tell me about the status of where that is?

Well, we never got to an agreement. In part because there was a difference of opinion in terms of what is sustainable, long term for the trust fund. The second piece of that was where should the dollars go? I wasn't a fan of having those dollars earmarked in some way specific to teacher pay and that's in part because our system isn't set up that way. I've been here from 2017. We've increased K-12 education money by close to 50%. I know teacher salaries have not increased by that amount. I would have supported a more broad-based approach where the money goes to the base level formula.

There’s a big election coming up. What do you want voters to know when they consider their ballots this year?

The issues that people of any party are concerned about; the top three are basically the same. And they're all having to do with either border security, safety, and the economy. All of those issues, whether they want to admit it or not, have gone south under the Biden administration. On the Republican side, while all this dysfunction is going on, at least here in Arizona, we've been able to pass structurally balanced budgets; to reduce taxes; to protect school choice; to empower parents to actually make decisions on their own; to do something about the border. For those reasons, I think we're going to do just fine with this election.

Any other thoughts?

We're blessed, especially in the House. I can say that, from a policy standpoint, there just isn't a better team out there.

How does the Senate’s team compare?

They’re not bad but the House is better. Definitely better.

Are you going to miss being in the Legislature?

Probably. I like getting things done. God willing, I'll be in Congress, but I hear it's a lot more difficult to get things done there than it is here. I couldn’t be more proud of school choice and the flat tax.

I just hope whoever the next Speaker Pro Tempore is an ounce as good as Travis Grantham is.

See? Another good team member. Having the right people doing the right job was such a huge thing.

 

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