I’ve got to hand it to Gov. Ducey: He really knows how to back Democrats into a corner.
He put them in a bind five years ago with Proposition 123, which increased payments to schools from the state’s land trust fund in exchange for ending a lawsuit over unpaid inflationary funding.
The deal made it possible for Ducey to avoid tax increases or rollbacks while still claiming victory on education funding, even though the settlement only funded 70% of what GOP lawmakers shorted schools.
Some Democrats balked, but education advocates jumped on board because, after a billion dollars in education cuts, they were desperate for funding and 70% was better than continuing their years-long court battle.