Arizona Education Association

Winter 2013

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AT THE CAPITOL " Today's ruling is a victory for Arizona's students, public schools, and ultimately, Arizona's citizens." —Andrew F. Morrill, AEA President AEA Wins Lawsuit, cont. from page 7 " The Arizona Supreme Court held that through a ballot proposition or referendum, the voters could constitutionally direct the legislature to annually increase the base level for K-12 public school funding. More importantly, the Court held that the funding plan created in Proposition 301 is protected by the Voter Protection Act in the Arizona Constitution, so the Arizona Legislature could not constitutionally disregard the statutory directive to increase the base level funding. The decision emphasized that the voters and the legislature share lawmaking power in Arizona, but the Voter Protection Act limits the legislature's power to modify voter initiatives and referenda. The Court specifically affirmed that while one legislature cannot restrict the lawmaking powers of future legislatures, the Arizona Constitution allows the voters to restrict the powers of future legislatures. Thus, the legislature's failure to adjust for inflation all of the components of the base level funding for the revenue control limit violated the Voter Protection Act. Let me be clear, this victory is your win. We are effective because of you, your passion, your commitment, and your membership." —Andrew F. Morrill, AEA President The difference in funding is significant. Arizona's leaders have cut over $1 billion in education funding since 2008. The state's failure to fully fund inflation over the past three years has meant a loss to Arizona students of nearly $300 million. Unfortunately, the Court was unable to force the Legislature to repay the $300 million that it wrongfully withheld from public education since 2010. Thanks to the Arizona Court of Appeals ruling this past Winter.13advo.indd 8 January, Arizona's public schools saw their first increase in education funding in five years. This is another example of AEA fighting for you and Arizona's students. When the state tried to reduce your salary by increasing your retirement contribution rate, AEA fought back and the state returned the rate to an equal 50/50 split and refunded you your money. When the state passed the educator gag bill which restricted the way labor union members pay dues to their professional association, AEA fought back and successfully defeated this law. When the state tried to take money from state trust land proceeds for administrative costs, AEA challenged them and won a lawsuit protecting state trust land funding for education. "At a time when Arizona is raising standards and accountability measures, common sense tells us that our state's leaders should provide an equal amount of support and resources to help our students and schools meet our higher expectations," says Morrill. "Instead we are seeing cut after cut, attacks on the teaching profession, and a system set up to defund our public education system through vouchers and tuition tax credits. Arizona's leaders are setting our students, teachers, and schools up for failure and the citizens of our state are no longer willing to stand by and let them further damage the future of Arizona." "Let me be clear, this victory is your win. Thank you for your commitment to Arizona's students and schools and for your dedication to the AEA. We are effective because of you, your passion, your commitment, and your membership. So, share this with your colleagues. Tell them that you and your professional association made the state legislature meet its responsibility to voters and to public schools. And then ask them to join us in our mission of Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education and add their voice to thousands of others across the state." 2 8 Winter 2013/14 x AEA Advocate 11/4/13 3:23 PM

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