GOP legislative leaders wars of costs of wage boost

Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey told hundreds of business leaders that continuing to improve K-12 education in Arizona will be a key legislative priority when lawmakers convene next week.

But the governor kept details of his proposals close to the vest at Friday’s annual Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s legislative forecast luncheon in downtown Phoenix. Those details will come next week in his state of the state address.

The incoming Republican leaders of state House and Senate told the crowd that voters’ November passage of a minimum wage may eat up extra cash Ducey’s proposals need. They are challenging Proposition 206 in court.

Democratic minority leader Sen. Katie Hobbs called that a dishonest argument. She says years of cuts to service providers set the stage for the added costs.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.