Purchasing Lingerie as an education expense?
How about diamond rings?
Or vacations at high end resorts?
These are some of the questionable $2,000 or under expenses, uncovered by 12 News Journalist/Muckraker Craig Harris, that have been legally approved and processed through the state’s billion dollar Empowerment Scholarship Welfare for the Wealthy Private School Voucher Program with no oversight by the Arizona Department of Education.
Other expenses, revealed by Harris’s investigative reporting, included:
- “200 Apple iPhones.
- More than 50 smart TVs.
- Dozens of gift cards worth up to $500 each.
- $3 million in purchases to Amazon, Costco, and Best Buy, with no indication of what was bought.
- Nearly $2,000 payments to a person identified as “me” and “Jamie the tutor.”
- Broadway Tickets at ASU Gammage.
- Dog Food.
- Maternity wear and corsets.
- Above-ground pools.
- Massive inflatable water slides.
- Diapers.
It is apparent that there are Arizona Families using the ESA program like they are subscribed to the Home Shopping Network.
What words are coming to mind?
Theft.
Grift.
Scam.
The reason these thieves, grifters, and scammers are legally getting away with this grotesque MAGA Republican sanctioned waste, fraud, and abuse is because conservatives at the state legislature, beholden to their one percent plutocratic and reactionary Turning Point and home school base have not funded appropriate staffing at the Department of Education to take the time to thoroughly examine these crooked reimbursement requests.
This backlog has caused the Arizona Department of Education, under Superintendent Tom Horne to allow the processing of reimbursement expenses, with no questions asked until after the money is approved, if they are for $2,000 or less.
According to Harris’s reporting, there were 1.2 million $2,000 or under requests for $124 million that were “automatically” approved with no scrutiny at all.
That is over ten percent of the one billion dollars in expenses for the ESA Welfare for the Wealthy Private School Voucher Program.
In the article, Mr. Horne states:
“Most people are honest and request reasonable things. The unreasonable ones are about one percent, and we recover them afterwards….So, there’s nothing where people can get away with murder on things under $2,000.”
Beth Lewis, the Executive Director of Save Our Schools Arizona, commented to Harris on the grift Horne’s actions have allowed:
“Tom Horne has instituted this policy, which is, you know, the exact opposite of any sort of financial stewardship or responsibility. We have no idea where the funds are going, and whether they’re being used to just improve people’s homes or pay for things that no other person in the state would ask people to pay for.”
Tyler Kowch, the Communications Director for Save Our Schools Arizona added in a comment to Blog for Arizona:
“I think the craziness of this story speaks for itself! Just more evidence that this program is in desperate need of reform.“
On the lack of accountability and transparency in the ESA system, Marisol Garcia, the leader of the Arizona Education Association, mused to Harris that:
“It just doesn’t happen. And there would be accountability, multiple layers of accountability. Hearing about these extravagant purchases breaks my heart.”
Arizona’s Democratic leaders also reacted negatively to the latest Harris reporting.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs responded to the Harris report by posting:
“While public school teachers fundraise for basic supplies, taxpayer dollars meant for education are being spent on diamonds and lingerie. This is beyond unacceptable. Our students deserve better, and this broken system needs accountability.”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote on social media:
“Paging Bob Barker. This list reads more like a Price is Right showcase showdown than legitimate educational expenses. The Legislature has failed year after year to put guardrails on this program and this is where it’s led us.”
Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz, Democratic Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, commented to Blog for Arizona:
““School choice” now means choosing between diamond jewelry and designer furniture, all with your tax dollars. Meanwhile, Arizona’s public school teachers spend over $600 out of pocket each year for their crowded classrooms. Voters rejected this program before, and it’s time to hold it accountable again next November by supporting candidates who put public education first.”
Arizona Democratic House Leader Oscar De Los Santos also conveyed his thoughts to Blog for Arizona, writing:
“ESA apparently now stands for Expensive Sexual Apparel after fraudsters were caught spending taxpayer dollars on lingerie. Meanwhile, Arizona’s public schools are so grossly underfunded that they are literally crumbling and rank at the bottom of the nation in per pupil funding. And what do Republican politicians do? Not a damn thing about it. Instead, they turn a blind eye to this waste, fraud, and abuse. Democrats will keep fighting.”
He also posted on social media:
“SERIOUS QUESTION: If Dems introduce legislation banning ESA dollars being spent on diamond rings and lingerie, will Republicans support it?”
Arizona Assistant Democratic House Leader and Educator Nancy Gutierrez responded to Leader De Los Santos question on social media, writing: “Well, let’s do this and find out.”
She also relayed to the Blog:
“I’m grateful to have proof of the fraud that has been happening with Mr. Horne’s blanket approval for ESA spending under $2000. This is proof that the entire program must be audited. It also shows that we need real restrictions and evidence of educational value for spending public tax dollars. The ESA universal voucher system needs to be cut and capped significantly and Republican Legislators need to take responsibility for this runaway program and join the Democrats in reforming it.”
Democrats should put it to working and middle class voters next year.
Do you want your hard earned tax payer dollars going to rich families who will use those monies to buy diamond necklaces or lingerie for their partners while your kids school can not afford to get crayons because Republicans at the State Legislature are okay with it?
That is a winning campaign question Arizona Republicans should be terrified about.
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