AZGOP Holds Public Sector Unions Hostage in Desperate Bid to Avoid a Public Vote on ESA Vouchers

Arizona Agenda is doing a great job covering the post-sine die negotiations for a Special Session over the Protect Education citizens’ Initiative to limit the ESA Voucher program. I strongly encourage you read and subscribe. I don’t have much to add to their accurate account; things hang in a precarious balance and it really not clear who will win in this high stakes face off, or even if there will be the votes for a deal if a special session is called – either by a supermajority of the state leg, or the Governor (although should the special be called by vote of the leg, a deal is more likely, because, in that case, there might actually be enough Dem votes for a deal).

What I smell more than anything in this drama is naked fear of the voters; The AZGOP knows what voters want (to put the corrupt and expensive ESA program in a box), and AZDems fear what voters may do out of ignorance (kill public sector unions’ ability to organize, constitutionally protect ESA accounts, and cripple the ability of schools to make democratic budget decisions that work for their own circumstances and locals’ preferences).

The reason why the AZGOP is so blatantly taking hostages, and trying to mislead voters, is simply because they know they’ll be beat this fall. The AZGOP are desperate for a deal, and that is never when you should cut a deal with the opposition – especially one as poor as the that which the AZ GOP is offering Dems, public schools, and unions. None of their offers or threats should be given any weight. They won’t be bound by their word, in any case.

Voters will certainly pass the citizen’s Protect Education Initiative to curb the wildly irresponsible ESA Voucher program by an overwhelming margin: that’s the ONLY reason why the AZGOP is taking hostages and begging for a deal.

AZDems, and our allies, should reject any such hostage negotiation. We may fear the damage to teachers’ unions, but the AZ GOP’s sloppy last minute referral has overshot the target, endangering traditional GOP union allies such as public safety unions.

My advice is to hang tough, refuse to negotiate with legislative terrorists who are desperately taking hostages, and let public safety sector unions quietly kill the AZGOP’s referral themselves. Then trust AZ’s voters to bring their skepticism of this AZGOP’s poison legislative referrals to bear on the remaining terroristic nonsense at the ballot box. AZ’s voters have a good track record of sniffing out this majority’s bullshit ballot referrals.

There is a good reason that it is a wise policy to never negotiate with terrorists taking hostages – most importantly, it teaches them that they can do it again and again. Have faith in voters, and in our ability to take majorities this fall! Hold strong. I know our allies are terrified, and that is exactly why we have to reject any deal. We need courage and conviction in this moment, not caution and fear.