Political Notebook: Ciscomani's vote for budget bill raises anger over Medicaid cuts

Rep. Juan Ciscomani has picked his poison.

Rather than facing the wrath of Republicans in a primary election over voting against their party, he will face the wrath of Democrats in the general election for voting with the Republicans.

That was one of the upshots of Ciscomani’s vote Thursday in favor of the mega budget bill passed Thursday by the House. With a 215-214 final count, any single vote — Ciscomani’s or a vote from the vacant Congressional District 7 seat — could potentially have changed the outcome.

Among the biggest issues raised by the bill was Medicaid, known in this state as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS.

Ciscomani had pledged to protect the health care program for the poor in a letter co-signed by 12 other Republicans in April, but Congressional Budget Office projections based on an earlier version of the bill estimated that at least 10 million people would lose insurance coverage by 2034 as a result of the bill.

“As Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, many of us representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid, we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program that ensures our constituents have reliable healthcare,” said the letter signed by Ciscomani in April. “We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”

A May 15 report by Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee estimated that about 301,000 Arizonans will lose health-insurance coverage if the bill becomes law.

However, Ciscomani has approved of some tightening of Medicaid requirements, including a work requirement for childless adults without disabilities to work, volunteer or attend school at least 80 hours per month.

In a press release Thursday, Ciscomani said the new bill “strengthens and protects Medicaid for those who rely on it by tackling waste, fraud, and abuse through sensible work requirements and stronger eligibility verification.” He also said it protects funding for rural hospitals.

Democrats and associated interest groups immediately hammered Ciscomani over the vote.

In a press conference next door to Ciscomani’s Tucson office, Democratic candidate Joanna Mendoza said the letter Ciscomani signed was a lie.

“He signed a letter full of big talk and false promises,” Mendoza said. “When it came time to back up that talk with action, he caved, he bended the knee.”

“He was the deciding vote on the largest cut to healthcare in our history.”

The bill also undermines Ciscomani’s position on the national deficit and debt, which he expressed in a Jan. 31 op-ed headlined “Our National Debt Demands Immediate Action.” The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the tax provisions of the bill will increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next 10 years.

“This budget does a much better job of getting our spending under control and prioritizing the things that truly matter to the hard-working taxpayer,” Ciscomani said in his Thursday press release. “There is more work to do but this is a great step in the right direction.”

- Tim Steller

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County, city adopt spending caps

On Tuesday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Tucson City Council adopted their respective tentative budgets for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Fiscal years for each municipality span July 1 through the following June.

The county board adopted its tentative budget , setting a spending cap of $1.7 billion, an increase of about 1.6% compared to the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget.

Under the tentative budget, the “proposed combined total” county property tax rate is $5.2317 per $100 of taxable net assessed value, Jan Lesher said in a memo. The combined levies generated by the rate will increase by about $43.3 million, or 7.6%, Lesher said.

The primary and secondary property taxes levied will fund 35% of the total recommended expenditures for Pima County, Lesher said.

The County is expected to adopt the final budget on June 17. A Truth in Taxation hearing will also be held at that meeting.

Tuesday night, the Tucson City Council adopted its own tentative budget for next fiscal year, setting a spending cap of $2.4 billion.

Under City Manager Tim Thomure’s recommended budget, the city’s combined property tax rate will decrease, from $1.0345 to $0.9963 per $100 of assessed valuation.

The largest expenditure expected to come out of the city’s general fund is for “Total Estimated Personnel Compensation” costs, at about $507 million. The recommended budget includes a total of $23.6 million “for additional investment in City employee compensation,” Thomure said.

The City Council is expected to adopt the final budget on June 3.

- Charles Borla

Unions endorse in CD 7

The two best-known candidates for the Democratic nomination in the Congressional District 7 special election are battling it out for labor endorsements in the seat previously held by a labor favorite, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva.

On Thursday, Daniel Hernandez announced the endorsement of the Teamsters Local 104, which represents Sun Tran drivers among others. Hernandez has also been endorsed by: the American Federation of Teachers, Arizona chapter; the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12, the SMART Union transportation division; and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 in Phoenix.

Adelita Grijalva, who is Raul’s daughter, has received the endorsement of these unions:

• Arizona Education Association
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99
• Communications Workers of America, Arizona state council
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Arizona state council
• Unite Here! Local 11
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 570
• Ironworkers Local 75

- Tim Steller