State contractor donated $400,000 to Gov. Katie Hobbs and AZ Democrats, and got millions more in state money
DCS over the course of the past year approved what amounts to a nearly 60% increase in the rate that Sunshine Residential Homes Inc. charges to care for a child for a day, meaning potentially millions of dollars more going to the company at taxpayers' expense.
No other standard group home provider — there are dozens — was approved for any rate increase during Hobbs’ tenure.
After initial rejection, Sunshine's rate increase comes after political donation. Sunshine Residential Homes in December 2022 sought a 20% rate increase, to $179 per day. DCS denied it on Feb. 6, 2023, according to records provided by the department.
Three days later, Sunshine donated $100,000 to a dark-money fund Hobbs’ campaign created...
Only recently did the company begin contributing to political campaigns in Arizona.
Two six-figure donations from Sunshine to the Arizona Democratic Party were reported when Hobbs was running for governor, totaling $200,000 in September and October 2022.
[Sunshine's CEO] and his wife personally donated nearly the maximum amount, $5,000 each, to Hobbs’ campaign.
That’s not all the company would kick in. Another $200,000 was donated after Hobbs’ election, with half of that going directly to Hobbs’ inauguration fund through her dark money group.
[Sunshine's Director of Programs] worked for DCS for a decade before joining Sunshine in 2022, according to his resume. Saifi donated $5,000 to Hobbs’ gubernatorial campaign the same day his boss did, state records show.
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*The above are excerpts from an Arizona Republic article by Stacey Barchenger. Emphasis added.
DCS over the course of the past year approved what amounts to a nearly 60% increase in the rate that Sunshine Residential Homes Inc. charges to care for a child for a day, meaning potentially millions of dollars more going to the company at taxpayers' expense.
No other standard group home provider — there are dozens — was approved for any rate increase during Hobbs’ tenure.
After initial rejection, Sunshine's rate increase comes after political donation. Sunshine Residential Homes in December 2022 sought a 20% rate increase, to $179 per day. DCS denied it on Feb. 6, 2023, according to records provided by the department.
Three days later, Sunshine donated $100,000 to a dark-money fund Hobbs’ campaign created...
Only recently did the company begin contributing to political campaigns in Arizona.
Two six-figure donations from Sunshine to the Arizona Democratic Party were reported when Hobbs was running for governor, totaling $200,000 in September and October 2022.
[Sunshine's CEO] and his wife personally donated nearly the maximum amount, $5,000 each, to Hobbs’ campaign.
That’s not all the company would kick in. Another $200,000 was donated after Hobbs’ election, with half of that going directly to Hobbs’ inauguration fund through her dark money group.
[Sunshine's Director of Programs] worked for DCS for a decade before joining Sunshine in 2022, according to his resume. Saifi donated $5,000 to Hobbs’ gubernatorial campaign the same day his boss did, state records show.
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*The above are excerpts from an Arizona Republic article by Stacey Barchenger. Emphasis added.
