Democrats tried to get rid of some strings attached to a restoration of cash assistance benefits pushed by Gov. Doug Ducey, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

The arrest Wednesday of a Department of Economic Security employee on suspicion of food stamp fraud is riddled with falsehoods about her criminal history, her housing situation and her likelihood to appear in court.

Democratic Rep. Ceci Velasquez of Litchfield Park pleaded not guilty in court today to three felony charges that she ripped off the state’s food stamp system.

House Democratic leadership is calling for Democratic Rep. Ceci Velasquez to resign after a state grand jury indicted Velasquez on allegations she ripped off the state’s food stamp program.

More than 1.1 million Arizonans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – better known as food stamps – will see their benefits reduced Friday in a long-planned national cut.

Arizona added 17,000 people to its food stamp rolls in October, as near-record-high levels of assistance continued to stubbornly hang on after 18 months.

More than 1 million Arizona residents received food stamps last year, placing the state in the top 25 percent of states for food stamp use.