Elizabeth Alvarado Thorson, Governor Katie Hobbs’ nominee for Arizona’s Executive Director, testified before the Senate Nominating Committee on February 20.Screenshot by Arizona Legislature/azleg.gov

The nomination of Gov. Katie Hobbs, who heads the state’s largest agency, after the top Republican congressman said the candidate didn’t speak “honestly and honestly” to the state’s Senate nominating committee after a morning of relentless questioning. verification has stalled.

Senator Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican and chairman of the newly created Nominations Commission, dismissed Elizabeth Alvarado Thorson, Hobbes’s nominee for Arizona’s Executive Director, by questioning, “This committee and I have treated people unfairly,” he said. Arizona. Hoffman, a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, added that Thorson would need to return before the committee to answer further questions.

Republican Established Director Nomination Committee In early February, Hobbes said it acted as an executive authority check for the purpose of evaluating candidates nominated for the position of department head.

In one of the most tense exchanges of the day, Hoffman asked Thorson about her personal views on abortion and how Hobbs promoted government-funded abortions for employees through state-funded health insurance. or theoretically allow state employees to be given special leave. for abortion.

Thorson told Hoffman that she was personally a pro-choice, but promised that it would not affect her duties as director.

“I will not apply my personal beliefs or opinions in carrying out my duties and responsibilities as head of administration,” she told the committee.

The Department of Administration describes itself as the “business and administrative hub” of the state government, providing health benefits to state employees, maintaining office buildings, and more. Thorson said the ministry implements policy and provides research, data and information, but does not make policy.

Thorson has been Deputy Director of the Administration since 2018, and prior to that, was Director of State Human Resources, overseeing the state’s human resources system of more than 32,000 people.

“We don’t create policies, we enforce them,” Thorson reiterated.

Democratic Phoenix Senator Lella Alston points out state law prohibits Arizona from using taxpayer funds for abortion services, while Mesa Democratic Senator Eva Burch says employees taking medical leave The member said there was no need to disclose. That means the Hobbes administration is unlikely to try to implement any kind of abortion leave policy.

Hoffman argues that Hobbes’ own campaign promises were the questions he posed to Thorson, specifically: Appoint a Pro Choice Director Heads administration, health department, and state Medicaid system.

In a statement to which Hoffman referred, Hobbes referred to the administration’s role in fixing the state’s “broken policy regarding maternity leave for state employees.”

During the committee meeting, Hoffman also questioned Thorson about $210 million in federal COVID-19 response grants awarded by the government at the time. Doug Ducey on the last day of his term canceled last week by the Hobbes administration.

Hoffman continued to press Thorson on the issue, but she said the Department of Management had nothing to do with awarding or revoking the grant, and that the administration of the COVID-19 Recovery Grant was part of the Governor’s Strategic Plan and He announced that he had been transferred to the Office of Budget Formulation. Early 2020.

Hobbes asked for comment on Thorson’s approval hearings, her plans to implement a state-funded abortion policy, or why she promised to appoint only pro-choice candidates to three specific directorships. did not respond by the deadline.

At the end of the committee meeting on February 20, Hoffman told Thorson that the committee was pending confirmation of her and would call her in for further questions in the future.

He also issued a warning to other Hobbes candidates who have not yet appeared before the committee that it should not be a “rubber stamp” for candidates and that they should be ready to answer difficult questions.

“You need to come here and be honest and honest with this committee,” he said, accusing Thorson of dodging questions and adding political twists to her answers.

Heads of various agencies in Arizona spoke at a meeting in support of Thorson’s appointment, including former Republican House Speaker Andy Tobin, whom Ducey nominated to head the administrative division.

He told the committee when the department had completed all of its major accomplishments over the past few years, including removing about one million square feet of unused office space and saving the state money on rent, maintenance, and repairs. , said Thorson was there.

“I am here today to let you know how much this good and decent civil servant will always be worth,” Tobin told the commission.

He also assured them that Thorson’s time in the department was to obey the law and not play politics.

Also on February 20, the committee voted 5-0 to submit Jennifer Toth’s nomination for Secretary of Transportation to the Senate plenary for review.

Toth most recently served as Director of the Maricopa County Department of Transportation and, prior to that, was State Engineer and Deputy Director of the State Department of Transportation.

Toth said her goals are safety, innovation and collaboration, adding that it’s important for the department to involve stakeholders when making road decisions.

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