“It ain’t over ’til we say it’s over”

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by David Safier

Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about vouchers in Arizona after yesterday's State Supreme Court decision that they're unconstitutional, comes this:

Ryan said there is a way to make the vouchers legal: persuade voters to amend the constitution to alter or repeal the ban.

That may be the next step.

"We will certainly consider all our options," said Tim Keller of the Institute for Justice, who tried to convince the high court the programs are constitutional.

And Ron Johnson, who lobbies on behalf of the state's Catholic bishops for the church's schools, said the question of putting the issue on the 2010 ballot may depend on what else voters will be asked to approve that year.

It's their right, of course. But how will a ballot measure play at a time when public schools are hurting for money? Will they argue we'll save education dollars? Will they pull out the widows and orphans defense? ("How dare you deny these poor children the education rich kids get at private schools?") Or will they decide it's a fight they don't want to pick right now?