If you are a candidate that wants to thwart the implementation of Proposition 208-Invest in Ed and increasing funding for Arizona’s public schools, you may have a hard time convincing voters to support you.
That is the conclusion of the Stand for Children Arizona Annual Poll conducted from December 1 to 4 that was released yesterday (December 20, 2021.)
Stand for Children Dec 2021 Annual Poll Release
Among the polls conclusions:
- 52 percent of the respondents feel Arizona is headed in the wrong direction.
- Governor Doug Ducey has a 52 percent unfavorable rating. In 2020, he had a 60 percent unfavorable ruling. The Arizona State Legislature has a 50 percent unfavorable one. That is up from 48 percent last year.
- Governor Ducey continues to get failing marks on his handling of public education. 66 percent give him a C grade or lower. That is unchanged from 2020.
- The Arizona Legislature also gets failing marks with 71 percent of the respondents giving them a C or lower. That is up from 69 percent in 2020.
- 71 percent of the respondents said there was a need for increased school funding. Most feel the increased funding should go to higher teacher compensation and improving school quality.
- 46 percent said they would probably not support a candidate who sought to overturn Proposition 208-Invest in Education.
- 61 percent stated that the 1.7 million people who voted for Proposition 208 should have the final say on Invest in Ed, not 48 Republican State Legislators.
- 58 percent feel that legislators who undermine the choice of the voters do not deserve to be reelected.
- 55 percent said they were less likely to vote for legislators that supported tax cuts for the rich to get around funding Proposition 208.
- 67 percent support removing the legislative spending limit on education or increasing it. This is currently the focal point in the battle with the Arizona Supreme Court on funding Invest in Ed. Please click on press release below. The Invest in Arizona Coalition is also considering running a ballot initiative to remove the spending cap on education if the courts overturn Proposition 208.
- 64 percent will still support higher funding for schools if Proposition 208 is overturned.
Commenting on the poll, Stand for Children Executive Director Rebecca Gau stated:
“The last year and a half has given all of us an opportunity to reflect on how strongly 48 politicians at the capitol oppose education funding, and what that means to voters. Voters want politicians to fulfil
“Arizonans have spoken and will not give in to any attempts to cut funding to our schools. In fact, voters feel quite the opposite.”
The holiday message for legislators that threaten public school funding. You do so at your own electoral peril even with the newly redrawn legislative districts where many independents will frown on you shortchanging public schools, teachers, and children.
Discover more from Blog for Arizona
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.