AZ Supreme Court Ballot Initiative Decisions Upheld Integrity of Election Process

August 30, 2018

Phoenix—In two positive moves for the people of the Grand Canyon State, the Arizona Supreme Court decided Wednesday to remove the so-called “Invest in Education Act”—also known as Proposition 207—and the “Outlaw Dirty Money Act” from the ballot this November. Goldwater Institute President and CEO Victor Riches has issued the following statement in response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s decisions:

“Yesterday, our Supreme Court upheld the integrity of the election process and shielded Arizonans from an extreme and permanent tax increase and a proposal that would have violated the basic principles of privacy and free speech.

“The Invest in Education proposal would have raised income taxes on all Arizonans, including low- and middle-income families, and imposed the fifth highest income tax rate in the country. Worse, it would have been rendered permanent, making future tax cuts practically impossible. Arizona needs to address education funding holistically, not in a way that would wreak havoc on our economy. Policymakers now have the opportunity to make positive change, by requiring school districts to clean up their spending practices, increase transparency and accountability, and put students and families first.

“Also, the so-called Dirty Money Initiative, which would have forced nonprofits to hand over to the government their supporters’ private personal information—exposing people to harassment and retaliation—would have demoralized Arizona’s nonprofit sector and censored debate about important public issues. Along with House Bill 2153 (the donor privacy protection law that the Institute passed earlier this year) the Court’s decision helps protect every Arizonan’s right to support the causes he or she believes in.”

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About the Goldwater Institute

The Goldwater Institute drives results by working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and strengthen the freedom guaranteed to all Americans in the constitutions of the United States and all 50 states. With the blessing of its namesake, the Goldwater Institute opened in 1988. Its early years focused on defending liberty in Barry Goldwater’s home state of Arizona.  Today, the Goldwater Institute is a national leader for constitutionally limited government respected by the left and right for its adherence to principle and real world impact. No less a liberal icon than the New York Times calls the Goldwater Institute a “watchdog for conservative ideals” that plays an “outsize role” in American political life.