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Raw Story: Republicans gripe about unqualified staff -- then nix expertise requirments for own jobs
Raw Story - Republicans gripe about unqualified staff — then nix expertise requirments for own jobs
Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror
May 7, 2025 1:10PM ET
The same legislative Republicans who have accused Arizona’s governor of appointing unqualified people to head state agencies just nixed qualification requirements for their own appointments to a litany of state boards and commissions.
On May 5, the Arizona House of Representatives voted along party lines to axe requirements for legislative appointments to various boards and commissions. The bill that the House approved, Senate Bill 1649, is sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen, the top Republican in the Senate.
On Tuesday, Petersen issued a statement touting the importance of the Senate Committee for Director Nominations, which he said is ensuring that agency directors nominated by Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, are qualified.
Petersen told the Arizona Mirror via email that the two situations did not make for an apples-to-apples comparison.
“The difference is that the confirmation process on director nominees exists to further the system of checks and balances,” he said. “The Legislature amending the way the Legislature makes board selections has nothing to do with separation of powers or checks and balances. The (current) qualifications are so narrow that they may eliminate more qualified individuals.”
/snip
Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror
May 7, 2025 1:10PM ET
The same legislative Republicans who have accused Arizona’s governor of appointing unqualified people to head state agencies just nixed qualification requirements for their own appointments to a litany of state boards and commissions.
On May 5, the Arizona House of Representatives voted along party lines to axe requirements for legislative appointments to various boards and commissions. The bill that the House approved, Senate Bill 1649, is sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen, the top Republican in the Senate.
On Tuesday, Petersen issued a statement touting the importance of the Senate Committee for Director Nominations, which he said is ensuring that agency directors nominated by Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, are qualified.
Petersen told the Arizona Mirror via email that the two situations did not make for an apples-to-apples comparison.
“The difference is that the confirmation process on director nominees exists to further the system of checks and balances,” he said. “The Legislature amending the way the Legislature makes board selections has nothing to do with separation of powers or checks and balances. The (current) qualifications are so narrow that they may eliminate more qualified individuals.”
/snip