PHOENIX — A Saudi-owned farm that has drained western Arizona’s groundwater for years has become a symbol of the state’s failure to cope with a major drought.
Attorney General Chris Mays told 12News nine days ago that she was close to taking legal action.
But fellow Democrats Katie Hobbes It’s not Mays’ job, he said Tuesday.
This is one of three takeaways from Hobbes’ press conference at the State Capitol.
1. No, she was not bribed
Governor Hobbes used humor in his press conference.
“I know you have one compelling question,” she told reporters.
“I will only answer once. No, I am not affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel.
Hobbes continued with the punchline, “I’m kidding.”
Hobbes and other elected officials were the target of bizarre slurs during a Republican-only all-day election hearing in the state Senate last week.
The Scottsdale insurance agent, who was an invited speaker, spun the story of mortgage fraud by drug cartels and financed election fraud by Hobbes and other elected officials.
#ArrestKatieHobbs trended nationally on Twitter.
Later in the press conference, Hobbes denounced a “circus show” in the Republican-controlled Congress.
Former Secretary of State Hobbes said, “This is the veritable culmination of more than two years of slander against me, other election officials and other leaders.
“It’s irresponsible for this to be allowed. It’s dangerous. It’s honestly making the legislature a laughing stock … I hope people are held accountable for this.”
Hours after the press conference, Chandler’s first-term Republican Rep. Liz Harris admitted in a Telegram post that the speaker Harris had invited had failed to provide evidence to support the outrageous election conspiracy.
2. That’s the governor’s job
This was one of Attorney General Chris Mays’ campaign promises.
Newly elected Democrats were trying to curb Saudi alfalfa growers who have free access to groundwater in western Arizona through state land leases.
“I can do something about it,” Mays said in an interview on “Sunday Square Off” on February 19.
“Watch this space in the coming weeks and we’ll be addressing this.”
Mayes planned to take action in March. But Hobbes said it was the governor’s job.
“This is a very complex issue and frankly, it is not something AG has the authority to do alone,” said Hobbs.
“We are trying to work with[Mays]on this.
Hobbs said there are many other leases on state land. The state could be sued if he chose only one lease.
A Mayes spokesperson said: “While legal action is not imminent, we continue to work on this matter with urgency.”
Saudi Arabia’s stronghold of operations, La Paz County in western Arizona, is seeking state relief.
3. Can they get along?
There are concerns that the Capitol’s divided government could fall off the financial cliff if the state budget is not passed by June 30.
There is a silver lining here. The Democratic governor accepted the invitation of Republican legislative leaders Warren Petersen and Ben Thoma. in a letter on Tuesday Sit down and discuss ways forward.
“It’s encouraging to be able to move forward in the negotiation process for a budget that we can all agree on,” Hobbes said.
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