Latest news with #Prop.123
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
When will Arizona voters get wise to Arizona's sorry excuse for a Legislature?
The Arizona Senate reportedly returns to the state Capitol this week after a chock-full month of doing, well nothing much, actually. This, following four arduous months of doing … well… I say senators "reportedly' are returning on May 28 because the Arizona House returned on May 20 after a two-week break wherein House Speaker Steve Montenegro promptly announced another two-week recess. It seems budget negotiations – those conversations that take place among a select few with absolutely no public input – aren't going so well. Heaven forbid our leaders get themselves to the Capitol and hear from the public before deciding how to spend our money. Or address a few of the bigger issues plaguing our state. Like a shortage of houses that people can actually afford. Or our crying need to protect what water we have and to find new sources of the stuff. Or the fact that $300 million in dedicated education funding will disappear on June 30, as Proposition 123 expires. For several years, our leaders have kicked that particular can down the road and now we've reached the end of it. Lawmakers will either have to find the $300 million in lost Prop. 123 funding elsewhere (as they have pledged to do) or stiff the schools. Republicans want to tie an extension of Prop. 123 to school vouchers. Basically, they want to hold Arizona's public schools hostage unless voters agree next year to protect Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, declaring that parents have a constitutional right to public money to pay their kids' private school tuition tab. Still, it's not like legislators haven't done anything in the first 134 days of what is supposed to be a 100-day session. They did pass a bill mandating that high school students be taught about the Gulf of America — a bill that Gov. Katie Hobbs promptly vetoed. And they established a Turquoise Alert system for missing Indigenous people, a bill that Hobbs signed. But they, with Hobbs' help, also trampled the constitutional rights of Scottsdale voters so that Axon, which makes Tasers, can build the state's largest apartment complex, voiding a successful campaign to put the issue to a public vote. And they spent a fair amount of time scheming to cut care for the state's most seriously disabled children, though in the end they didn't have the votes to discontinue to the Parents as Paid Caregivers program. Opinion: It took a seventh-grader to break Arizona's fight over disabled funding Fortunately, the Legislature still has a month to consider the affairs of state. Like the growing number of working Arizona parents who can't afford decent daycare and are on the Department of Economic Security's waitlist to get a childcare subsidy. The Legislature will either help those 4,500 children as part of their secret budget negotiations or tell their parents to suck I'm thinking the latter is likely. You know who will have no trouble getting help? Ken Kendrick, the bazillionaire owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and one of the state's biggest contributors to Republican politicians. Look for our leaders to pony up a massive subsidy to fix up Chase Field. The only real question is whether they will use only tax money generated by the team or reach more deeply into our I know. It is our sacred obligation to provide the team with $500 million — possibly double that once interest is factored in — to renovate the publicly owned ballpark built for a team that now worth $1.6 billion, according to Forbes. One that Kendrick, bought for $238 million in 2004. Opinion: Deal to keep the Arizona Diamondbacks is a beanball aimed at taxpayers We either pay up or lose the team and the Valley will become a sports wasteland and little children will suffer because they want to be taken out the ballgame, but alas, there won't be one. Yeah, don't lay awake tonight worrying about the baseball team. Our leaders have their priorities, after all, and I'm confident that before June is out, they'll come up with a way to help the D-backs. The kids, not so much. Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Senate returns. Will housing, school issues be fixed? | Opinion
Axios
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Capitol Roundup: Republicans eye school choice protections in Prop. 123 renewal
Republican lawmakers plan to include school choice protections in a proposal to renew Proposition 123 when the expiring K-12 funding measure goes to the ballot next year. The big picture: Lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs are trying to renew Prop. 123, which expires at the end of June. Rather than put the several hundred million dollars it generates annually toward general school funding, GOP lawmakers want to focus exclusively on teacher pay. Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, is working on an amendment to add protections for Arizona's array of school choice programs in the state constitution. Zoom in: Mesnard told Axios the amendment hasn't been finalized but that it would protect charter schools, homeschooling, open enrollment, tuition tax credits and the controversial voucher-style Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Mesnard said the provision would protect "what we believe is the fundamental right to direct the educational upbringing of their kids" Mesnard noted the original Prop. 123 very narrowly passed in 2016, and he said he believes the school choice provision would increase voter support. The intrigue: Lawmakers have been at odds over whether the new Prop. 123 would only increase pay for teachers, as Republicans have proposed, or include non-teaching support staff, which Democrats support. Hobbs pitched a new plan in March that raises only teacher salaries, while Senate Democrats unsuccessfully backed a proposal to renew Prop. 123 in its current form. Adding school choice to the mix would likely ensure opposition from Democrats, who are largely hostile to the ESA program. Democrats and public education advocates began sounding the alarms Thursday after the Arizona Education Agenda first reported that Prop. 123 renewal would include ESA protections. Yes, but: Republicans don't need Hobbs or Democratic votes to refer measures to the ballot. The other side: Arizona Education Association president Marisol Garcia told Axios she would prefer Prop. 123 to be renewed in its current form so school districts have flexibility in how they spend the money. She questioned why protecting an ESA system she described as "fraught with abuse" and lacking guardrails and transparency should be a priority. Hobbs spokesperson Christian Slater told Axios that Prop. 123 renewal has a greater chance of passage if it's bipartisan and has a broad coalition of support. What's next: Mesnard said the House and Senate could vote on an amended Prop. 123 plan as early as next week. In other Capitol news this week: 👋 Hobbs accepted the resignations of Carmen Heredia, who leads the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, and Jennie Cunico, the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, on Wednesday, saying it became clear Senate Republicans wouldn't confirm them. ₿ The Senate sent Hobbs a bill Tuesday that would allow the state to invest up to 10% of state funds in cryptocurrency.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposition 123: Arizona educators urge lawmakers to renew funding bill
The Brief Proposition 123 allows the state to take nearly 7% out of the land trust fund to pay for school districts' expenses. The bill was passed in 2016, but it is set to expire at the end of June. Educators held a rally on March 12, urging lawmakers to put the bill before voters. PHOENIX - Arizona educators held a rally at the state Capitol on Wednesday, demanding lawmakers make funding public education a priority this session. What they're saying The rally was organized by the Arizona Education Association, who marched and chanted outside the House and Senate buildings, asking legislators to put Proposition 123 before voters this August. "What we need is a bold plan for legislators," said AEA President Marisol Garcia. "What you're going to get is educators who are not going to let this system fail." The backstory Proposition 123 was passed in 2016 by voters, but expires at the end of June. The measure allows the state to take nearly 7% out of the land trust fund, up from 2.5%, to pay for school districts' expenses. The measure has provided hundreds of millions of dollars to schools over the last 10 years. Union officials have said that frustration among state educators is growing. Resources are inadequate, classes are overcrowded, and teachers don't feel supported. "Parents should care very deeply. The state is going to have to end up dealing with a lot of financial responsibility under the current national administration," said Garcia. "So it's our job in the state to do what's best for our kids. This is a perfect way to go. It does not increase taxes for anyone, it actually ensures that money coming from the land trust is given to the schools, from 2.5 to 6.9." "We do not have a teacher shortage, y'all," said State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18). "We have a shortage of teachers who are willing to put up with this anymore." By the numbers Governor Katie Hobbs supports extending Prop. 123's 6.9% draw for another 10 years. However, State Sen. JD Mesnard only wants to take 4.5% out, believing that is what the state can afford over the long term. As for proceeds, Gov. Hobbs wants to put the estimated $300 million towards teacher pay raises and general school expenses, while Republicans only want to put it towards wage increases. The AEA says the longer they take, the stronger the likelihood the proposition doesn't go before voters until 2026.
Axios
11-02-2025
- Business
- Axios
No timeline for Prop. 123 renewal plan
GOP lawmakers have a starting point for negotiations on a Proposition 123 renewal plan that would increase teacher pay, but no timeline for when they'll move forward. Catch up quick: Voters approved the original Prop. 123 in a 2016 special election. The plan, which ended years of litigation over K-12 funding, increased school disbursements from the state's land trust fund. That expires at the beginning of July. The big picture: Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, and Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, introduced identical proposals at the end of January to renew the plan. Mesnard told Axios that the latest draft is a placeholder while lawmakers work out the details. State of play: Mesnard said there are no details for when a Prop. 123 renewal will go up for a committee vote. The only time constraint lawmakers face is the Feb. 21 deadline for bills to receive committee hearings in their original chamber. If lawmakers can't reach an agreement soon, Mesnard said they'll have to pass a bill out of committee with the understanding it'll be amended. Friction point: There are several variables lawmakers must work out before sending something to the ballot. Whether they increase the 6.9% disbursement rate from the land trust fund. Whether they go with another temporary plan or make it permanent. Whether they put it on the November 2026 ballot or pursue a special election this year. Whether they increase pay only for teachers or school support staff, too. The intrigue: Republicans largely support using the Prop. 123 money to increase teacher pay but not support staff, while Gov. Katie Hobbs and other Democrats have advocated for higher salaries for everyone. GOP lawmakers can send a renewal plan to the 2026 ballot on their own but need the governor's approval if they want a special election. But because the expiring Prop. 123 will be backfilled in the next budget, no funding cliff would necessitate a special election. Mesnard said there's a "strong preference" among Republicans for a teacher-only plan, but he also wants broad enough support to ensure it passes at the ballot, noting the original Prop. 123 election was a nail-biter. What they're saying: "I'm going to be as open-minded as I can," with the understanding that most if not all Republican legislators want to focus on teacher pay to ensure the pay raise is meaningful, Mesnard said. The other side: The Hobbs administration is in negotiations with stakeholders and lawmakers in the hope of reaching "a bipartisan solution that raises teacher pay, funds our schools and delivers a high-quality education," gubernatorial spokesperson Christian Slater said.
