SOUND THE ALARM: As Arizona Families Struggle, Republicans Splurge on Taxpayer Funded White House Trip

In case you missed it, Arizona Republican lawmakers spent $53,000 taxpayer dollars for a trip to the White House, while Arizonans struggle to afford basic needs because of Republicans’ disastrous, cost-hiking agenda. 

Reps. Pamela Carter, Jeff Weninger, and Rachel Keshel were among the Arizona House Republicans that went on the trip and all will face off against EMILYs List-endorsed women, who are focused on working for Arizonans not politics.   

Read coverage from Arizona Capitol Times here.

Arizona Republicans spent $53k on White House leadership trip, Arizona Capitol Times
By Jakob Thorington and Jordan Gerard, 07/29/2026

Arizona Republican lawmakers spent about $53,000 traveling to Washington, D.C. last month to attend a conference at the White House.

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The House and Senate covered airfare, lodging and meals for the 30 lawmakers who traveled to the conference. The House also paid $3,000 in “other” expenses for the representatives.

The trip was paid for with money allocated from each chamber’s regular taxpayer-funded budget.

The event was an opportunity for Republican lawmakers in the state to meet with Trump administration officials and coordinate strategies to advance the administration’s political policies in the state. It was organized by the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and lawmakers from multiple states were invited.

[…]

Reps. Leo Biasicucci, Pamela Carter, Rachel Keshel, Nick Kupper, Justin Olson, Michele Peña, Michael Way and Jeff Weninger did not submit expenses for airfare or meals.

Other representatives who attended included Reps. Sylvia Allen, Neal Carter, Lupe Diaz, Gail Griffin, Chris Lopez, Quang Nguyen, Beverly Pingerelli, Tony Rivero, James Taylor, Justin Wilmeth and Speaker Steve Montenegro.

The senators who attended were Sens. Hildy Angius, Frank Carroll, Tim Dunn, David Farnsworth, Mark Finchem, David Gowan, John Kavanagh, Warren Petersen, Wendy Rogers, T.J. Shope and Carine Werner.

The Senate covered just over $9,600 in flights and $7,800 in lodging. Petersen, Dunn and Carroll spent $205 on meals, but the remaining senators did not submit meal expenses.

In the Miscellaneous category, Angius, Carroll and Dunn spent almost $300, and Carroll submitted a mileage expense for $54.23.

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