Prescott area state representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss have been selected to be part of a House advisory team to investigate the Arizona Department of Child Safety. The team was formed following a story by the Arizona Republic pointing to a potential case of pay-to-play inside the department.
Documents and messages revealed that Sunshine Residential Homes received a 30-percent rate increase worth millions after donating more than $400,000 to Governor Katie Hobbs and the state Democrat Party, while other providers were denied similar requests. Staff communications discussed keeping the increase quiet from competitors and acknowledged the company’s political ties to Hobbs.
State House officials say the advisory team will lead a legislative investigation to gather facts, coordinate with ongoing law-enforcement inquiries, and recommend House action to end political favoritism in state contracting.