FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Senate Committee on Director Nominations Recommends Confirmation
for Department of Economic Security Appointee
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— After a 17-month hiatus caused by Governor Katie Hobbs' illegal scheme to evade the Senate confirmation process, the Senate Committee on Director Nominations (DINO) reconvened today and is recommending confirmation of Michael Wisehart for Director of the Department of Economic Security (DES).
Arizona law requires state agencies to be overseen by directors who are confirmed by the Senate. Since the inception of DINO in 2023, Chairman Jake Hoffman has led the committee in providing recommendations of confirmation for seven out of 10 nominees submitted by Hobbs. The other three nominees who were rejected either openly expressed radical and polarizing political views or were alleged to have engaged in rampant plagiarism. After the committee refused to rubberstamp those three individuals, Hobbs withdrew the remaining director nominees awaiting confirmation and reinstalled these individuals with a fake title of "Executive Deputy Directors." Senate Republicans filed a lawsuit against Hobbs, leaving her with no other options than to admit she violated state law, and her radical scheme ended. Today's DINO hearing was the first one held since 2023.
Wisehart worked for DES for two decades and was appointed under the Ducey Administration as the agency's director from 2020 until 2023. When Governor Hobbs entered office, she replaced Wisehart with Angie Rodgers. The committee tentatively approved Rodgers for Senate confirmation with the express caveat that her appointment be held for further observation for competence and compliance. During Rodgers two-year stint leading DES under the Hobbs Administration, the agency overspent an estimated $57 million dollars without legislative authorization on the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). As a result of this negligence, DDD is now in jeopardy of not being able to pay its bills beginning May 1. Rodgers was ultimately removed by Hobbs as the Director nominee and replaced with Wisehart. The Senate will consider Wisehart's confirmation at a later date.
"Far too many of Katie Hobbs’ nominees to lead the critical agencies of our state have wreaked of incompetence or rampant partisanship," said Chairman Hoffman. "The Senate Committee on Director Nominations has been, and will continue to be, Arizonans’ last line of defense against her radical and irresponsible agenda. We promised to honestly, accurately, and thoroughly vet each of these nominees and only approve competent, non-partisan choices— and that is precisely what we will continue to do. The people of Arizona expect nothing less."
###
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus