“LWV of Arizona takes position in OPPOSITION to PROP 123
The Voters passed Proposition 301 in 2000, which the Executive Branch of the State has refused to enforce despite being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court of Arizona. This Proposition, which became the Law of the State of Arizona, clearly stated the will of the Voters of Arizona. No one is above The Law; however, the Executive Branch of this State has placed itself above this Law, by refusing to fully fund it. The Executive Branch has now placed before the Voters Proposition 123, which provides funding to the schools below the inflation adjusted 2008 funding. This Proposition has terms which the League cannot support. The Executive Branch has indicated that this is a “take it or leave it” deal. Therefore, The League of Women Voters of Arizona has taken a position in opposition to Proposition 123. Further, the League of Women Voters of Arizona stands for democracy and we agree with Winston Churchill whosaid,“.. .it is the people who control the Government not the Government the people.” We believe this attempt to force the voters to overturn a law they lawfully enacted by refusing to enforce it and forcing them to pass another proposition in its place disenfranchises them. Therefore, the League will ask the US Department of Justice to investigate this disenfranchisement.” (from their FB page on March 29, emphasis is mine)
The special election on Prop. 123 is slated for May 17, 2016, so stay tuned for forums about this K-12 education funding proposition. One was recently held on March 29, 2016 by the Vail School District. Campaign against Prop. 123 website is: http://www.noprop123.com/. AZ State Treasurer Jeff DeWit also opposes Prop. 123 as well.