Montini: ‘No on Prop. 123’ committee versus Goliath
Goliath is getting a little worried about the outcome of the election on Proposition 123.
Proponents of the proposition are asking authorities to remove the rocks from David’s slingshot.
Late last month lawyers for the Arizona Education Association filed a complaint against the Committee Opposing Proposition 123, accusing it of “a scheme to hide from Arizona’s voters who is really paying for and controlling the No on 123 campaign.”
The complaint was sent to Secretary of State Michelle Reagan, Attorney General Mark Brnovich and state elections director Eric Spencer.
The association’s lawyers said, “No on Prop 123 has not filed any report showing expenditures of $10,000 or more, or contributions of $10,000. Frankly, it is inconceivable that both thresholds have not been exceeded.”
'No' group doesn't need deep pockets
Part of the complaint is true. The anti-123 committee has not filed any paperwork noting donations of more than $10,000. Primarily, they say, because there have been none.
In answer the complaint, the anti-123 group’s attorney, Tom Ryan, wrote: “The Committee’s work is done solely by volunteers and it has no paid staff. As of the date of this letter, the Committee has raised $8,546.25, including in-kind contributions, and has a cash balance of $1,442.87. Every penny of these sums is accounted for in the required filings with the office of the Secretary of State.”
On the group’s Facebook page, Chairperson Morgan Abraham adds: “We take it as a compliment that a campaign with a $4 million budget finds it ‘inconceivable’ that determined volunteers with a budget of less than $10,000 can help expose Proposition 123 for what it is: a poison pill for the future of public education in this state. It appears that when your campaign has unlimited funds from billionaires, you forget what you can accomplish with determination and talented volunteers.”
'They're throwing rocks against howitzers'
Prop. 123 is an easy enough scam to expose. But it's backers have lots of money and are willing to spend it.
“And they’re not happy with how this little group is doing,” Ryan told me. “These aren’t advocates for not funding public school. They’re just the opposite. They want to hold the Legislature responsible. They’re throwing rocks against howitzers and they’re winning. It’s because they’re telling the truth and people are recognizing it.”
Ryan and the anti-123 committee are fighting back as well. He plans to file a complaint with the Secretary of State involving legally required publicity pamphlets.
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“Hundreds of thousands of these pamphlets haven’t been mailed, we believe,” Ryan told me. “The Republican party pushed through a bill after the Russell Pearce Recall mandating strict compliance with law for referendums and recalls. I want to find out if they really mean it.
Elections aren’t pretty. Proponents of 123 are spending huge amounts of money on a TV campaign.
Ryan said that he feels for the plight of Arizona teachers and understands why so many would support Prop. 123.
“They’re desparate and I don’t blame them,” he said. “Voters (back in 2000) demanded in an election that the Legislature and the Republican leadership properly fund education. They dug their heels in and refused to do it. The courts stood up for us and said, ‘Hey, fund education.’ And the Legislature again refused to do it. So they came up with this plan. The AEA is like a hostage. Every time I see one of those commercials in favor of 123 it feels like the underlying message is: Let us steal from the land trust or the teacher gets it.”
MORE FROM E.J. MONTINI ON PROP 123:
Montini: Exposing the Prop. 123 scam in six words
Montini: The hocus-pocus illusion of Prop. 123’s ‘guarantees’