State lawmakers have approved a $9.6 billion spending plan for the coming year. But before Wednesday morning's deal, they first had to fight about whether there's enough money for education.
Lawmakers did agree to restore cuts to K-12 funding that had been in the budget proposal from Gov. Doug Ducey and legislative leaders. But House Minority Leader Eric Meyer said there's a surplus and proposed restoring $116 million cut from schools in prior years.
In reference to claims Arizona should up spending since it ranks near the bottom-- 47th-- of the country for education, Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, said, "You're talking about spending. And if that's what we're spending, if that's true, we are getting more for our money than a lot of schools in America."
That drew an angry reaction from Rep. Reginald Bolding, D-Laveen-- "When 87 percent of students are not college-ready in math, don't sit here and tell me that our schools are getting the resources that they need."
Rep. Bruce Wheeler, D-Tucson, said the $300 more per-student, per-year that would be raised if voters approve Proposition 123 is just a first step toward restoring education funding. He said voters will take note of the failure of lawmakers to make more than tiny increases in K-12 funding.
"If 123 does fail, it will be because the majority of Arizonans see through the smoke and mirrors of this false promise that has nothing behind it," Wheeler said.
The election is May 17.