XPost: alt.politics.democrats.governors, talk.politics.guns, alt   
   fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: sac.politics, alt.home.repair   
   From: nospam@comcast.net   
      
   The Arizona attorney general’s office said Thursday that it had launched   
   an investigation into an alleged “pay-to-play” scheme linked to Democrat   
   Gov. Katie Hobbs.   
      
   Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office sent a letter to State Sen.   
   T.J. Shope explaining the criminal division will probe whether any civil   
   or criminal charges will be brought after a group home company received   
   substantial benefits following six-figure political contributions. Shope   
   demanded the investigation after reporting on the apparent payment   
   scheme surfaced in the Arizona Republic.   
      
   On Wednesday, the paper reported that Sunshine Residential Homes, the   
   state’s largest provider of beds for those in need of group home   
   support, received a significant rate hike from the Department of Child   
   Safety (DCS) after making donations to the Arizona Democratic Party and   
   the governor’s inauguration fund. The company received approval from DCS   
   for a nearly 60 percent increase in rates charged to care for children.   
   Meanwhile, the department took an altogether different approach to other   
   providers.   
      
   “Arizona’s child welfare agency has for years sought to move vulnerable   
   kids out of group homes and into family-like settings,” the Arizona   
   Republic reported. “To reduce the use of group homes, and combined with   
   budget constraints, the Arizona Department of Child Safety has denied   
   pay increases to home operators and cut loose 16 providers during the   
   contract renewal process.”   
      
   “No other standard group home provider — there are dozens — was approved   
   for a rate increase during Hobbs’ tenure,” the Arizona Republic reported.   
      
   The company donated $100,000 to a dark-money fund for Hobbs’   
   inauguration and gave $200,000 to the state Democratic Party before the   
   2022 election, the Arizona Republic reported. The CEO of Sunshine   
   Residential also served on Hobbs’ inaugural committee and gave Hobbs an   
   award just before the 2022 election.   
      
   https://twitter.com/kylenabecker/status/1798932944666722376   
   The Arizona Republic cited a “spokesperson” for the governor’s office   
   who denied Hobbs had anything to do with the preferential rate increases.   
      
   “Just like past investigations instigated by radical and partisan   
   legislators, the administration will be cleared of wrongdoing,” Hobbs   
   spokesman Christian Slater told Axios. “It would be outrageous to   
   suggest her administration would not do what’s right for children in   
   foster care.”   
      
   Hobbs won election in 2022 by a little more than 17,000 votes. He   
   Republican opponent in that race, Kari Lake, is now running for the   
   Senate seat currently occupied by retiring independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.   
      
   https://thefederalist.com/2024/06/07/arizona-ag-launches-investi   
   ation-into-alleged-pay-to-play-scheme-involving-katie-hobbs/   
      
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