Budget Crunch Meets Electric Car Debate: Chaplik Pushes Back on Tax Hikes

State 48 News Exclusive: Rep. Joseph Chaplik weighs in on Arizona’s budget crisis, and how Arizona could benefit from a “DOGE”-style approach to cut waste and tighten spending.

Beneath Arizona’s debate over electric vehicles lies a much bigger crisis — a billion-dollar budget deficit rattling lawmakers and taxpayers alike. What began as questions about EVs and road funding has now widened into a discussion over spending, accountability, and the future of the state’s finances. In a State 48 News exclusive, Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-LD3) points to what he says are costly missteps at the top, raising the stakes far beyond traffic and technology.