Governor Katie Hobbs reads to children at a United Way childcare center in Tucson. March 125, 2025
Governor Katie Hobbs was in Tucson on Tuesday to talk about childcare and what the state can do to help families afford the services.
Before Hobbs met with mothers to talk about the issue, she took time to read a book to toddlers at the United Way run childcare center.
When Hobbs met with the group of mothers she heard concerns about waiting lists for state-assisted care and dwindling money for help.
"We’re going to lower the cost of childcare by up to two-thirds for families, we’re going to cut the DES waitlist in half. You heard some folks who are struggling with that," Hobbs told reporters after the roundtable.
The mothers also told Hobbs about their frustration with a lack of state offices and often being told just to call a phone number.
"Having state offices accessible around the state is important and it is something that I keep pushing on. So, I know there is, it sometimes can be cost prohibitive but people should have access to care in their communities and we’re going to do more to make sure that happens," the Governor said.
Hobbs and the Republican-dominated legislature are currently trying to negotiate a budget. She wants more affordable childcare and a massive reduction in the state waiting list for placement.
She recently held a similar roundtable in the Phoenix area.
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