Rep. Juan Ciscomani Votes for Budget That Will Lead to Massive Slashing of Vital Programs for Working Families While Bankrolling Tax Breaks For Billionaires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2025

Press Contact: press@luchaaz.org 

PHOENIX — Last night, Rep. Juan Ciscomani voted for a House budget resolution that slashes Medicaid, food assistance, and other critical programs Arizonans rely on—all to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires while ignoring Arizona’s affordable housing crisis and underfunded public schools. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) condemns this vote as part of a broader effort by Republicans, from Washington to Phoenix, to scapegoat immigrants through fear-based policies, all to distract from an economy rigged by billionaires in favor of billionaires. 

“Instead of fixing our schools and healthcare, Republicans are pushing fear and blaming immigrant communities to mask the real crisis: a rigged economy that only benefits billionaires,” said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA. “By voting for this budget, Rep. Ciscomani betrays working families and shows he’d rather cut Medicaid and defund our children’s education than stand up for working Arizonans who are being squeezed every day by rising costs and stagnant wages.”

SCAPEGOATING IMMIGRANTS WHILE FAMILIES ARE SQUEEZED FOR EVERY CENT

• Defunding Public Goods: This budget resolution diverts attention toward fear-based anti-immigrant rhetoric, allowing lawmakers to avoid responsibility for defunding public schools and neglecting affordable housing.

• Medicaid Cuts Hit Families Hard: Nearly 2.3 million Arizonans rely on Medicaid, including 752,000 children and 191,000 seniors. Cutting these services leaves families with impossible choices—pay for medical care or pay the rent.

• Ignoring the Affordable Housing Crisis: With rents skyrocketing statewide, Arizonans need real investment in housing support. Instead, this budget fails to address rising costs, pushing more families into precarious living situations.

• Skyrocketing Costs, Stagnant Wages: Rather than help families hit by soaring grocery and gas prices, this budget channels resources away from programs that could stabilize household finances—allowing big corporations and billionaires to keep rigging the economy.

  
  

FEAR AS A SMOKESCREEN FROM A RIGGED ECONOMY

Republican leaders have ramped up anti-immigrant policies—such as mass deportations and racial profiling—to distract from the fact that this economy is benefiting a privileged few, the well-connected, and billionaires at the expense of everyday working families. By blaming immigrants for economic hardships, politicians like Rep. Ciscomani maliciously distract attention away from the real issue: a system designed to enrich billionaires while working people struggle to afford the basics to survive. 

“Every dollar spent scapegoating immigrant communities is a dollar stolen from our schools, our hospitals, and the housing our neighbors desperately need,” added Gomez. “This vote tells us exactly where Rep. Ciscomani stands: with the wealthiest donors instead of the working families of Arizona.”

CALL FOR REAL SOLUTIONS

LUCHA believes that creating a fair economy requires fully funded public schools, accessible healthcare, and strong investments in affordable housing—not fear-based scapegoating that leaves families without the resources they need. We call on all Arizonans to reject this irresponsible budget and demand that lawmakers focus on policies that uplift, rather than marginalize, our communities.