PHOENIX — Governor Katie Hobbs is taking aim at Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Superintendent Tom Horne’s policy to rubber-stamp Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) spending under $2,000, claiming the move eliminates critical taxpayer oversight.
In a letter sent Wednesday, Hobbs criticized Horne’s decision to automatically approve reimbursement requests, a plan he announced after revealing a backlog of over 89,000 claims. The policy could allow up to $170 million in taxpayer dollars to be spent without proper review, raising concerns about potential fraud and misuse.
Governor’s Concerns
“Arizonans deserve oversight over how their taxpayer dollars are spent,” Hobbs said in a statement. “This decision creates an environment ripe for fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds.”
Hobbs highlighted past controversies involving ESA spending, citing extravagant expenses such as grand pianos, ski passes, and luxury car driving lessons as examples of unchecked reimbursements.
Superintendent’s Plan
Horne defended the policy as a means of addressing the overwhelming backlog of reimbursement requests. However, critics argue that automatic approval sacrifices accountability and undermines public trust in the ESA program.
A Call for Action
Hobbs is urging Horne to reconsider the policy and implement proper oversight measures to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, particularly given the significant amount of public funds at stake.
The debate underscores ongoing tensions between state leaders over the management of ESA funds and the prioritization of fiscal responsibility in Arizona’s education system.