By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Governor Katie Hobbs held an affordability roundtable in Tucson at the IBEW Hall on Saturday. She was joined by Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, who’s running for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District seat.
Read more Competitor in custody for alleged horse mistreatment at Las Vegas barrel racing event
“I mean we’re hearing a lot about the rising cost of utilities, rent, groceries, and now gas with the war in Iran,” Mendoza said.
With inflation reaching its highest level across the U.S. since 2023 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some Arizonans say they’re struggling to stay afloat.
The roundtable featured local business owners, healthcare advocates and food bank workers as they discussed the cost of living, including tariffs and gas prices, which have spiked since the conflict in the Middle East began more than three months ago.
“Even if the national average is going down, here in southern Arizona, people are still having to pay a lot, way more, for gas,” Mendoza said.
The group also discussed health insurance costs, which single mother Fabiola Bedoya says has left her with a difficult choice.
“I’m probably gonna go to Mexico to get healthcare because of affordability, and it really shouldn’t be that way, there should be an in-between” Bedoya said.
Read more Crews on scene of new wildfire burning on Mount Lemmon
The conversation comes as Arizona lawmakers stare down a June 30 deadline to negotiate a state budget deal. Despite weeks of back and forth with the Republican-controlled legislature, Governor Hobbs said they’re within weeks of a final agreement that she said will prioritize Arizonans and help keep costs down.
“In times where Arizonans are feeling the impact of Washington’s cost-hiking and job-killing agenda, that we’re doing everything that we can to mitigate that,” Hobbs said.
Juan Ciscomani’s office, the incumbent Republican running against Mendoza, provided a statement in response to their claims.
“Juan is focused on delivering for Arizonans, introducing legislation aimed at housing for veterans, funding for cancer research, passing tax relief for the middle class and voting to cut housing regulations and bring down the cost of new construction,” the statement said.
====================================================
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
Read more Serious crash closes I-10 near Tucson
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.