Fate of vouchers bill could hinge on one senator

Two weeks ago, the push to expand vouchers to all Arizona students was a bullet train streaking along supposedly greased rails, fast-tracked in order to get more students attending private school on the public’s dime. Today, Senate Bill 1431 is looking more like the little engine that couldn’t (and shouldn’t). It seems some obstacles have landed smack dab there in the middle of the tracks, threatening our leaders’ latest plan to divert ever-larger amounts of public cash to private schools in the name of parental choice.

Obstacle No. 1: The Joint Legislative Budget Committee has advised that, despite sponsor Sen. Debbie Lesko’s denials, the bill would cost the state money. Specifically, every new Empowerment Scholarship Account (read: voucher) would cost an extra $800 per student beyond what the state now pays for traditional public schooling. That soars to an added $5,600 per student if the child lives in Scottsdale or one of 35 other districts where local taxpayers now pick up the tab for public schools.

In all, the JLBC estimates Lesko’s bill would cost the state $2.1 million next year and $45.3 million by 2021. As a result, her bill must be considered as part of the budget, competing with every other request for new spending, rather than as a stand-alone proposal. Obstacle No. 2: Sen. Bob Worsley. The bill needs 16 votes in the Senate to pass. There are 17 Republican senators. One, Sen. Kate Brophy McGee of Phoenix, is a firm “no.”

Worsley is a Mesa Republican who on occasion bucks the powers that be. In this case, Power No. 1 is lobbyist Cathi Herrod and her conservative Center for Arizona Policy, which craves that public money for religious schools. Power No. 2 is lobbyist Sydney Hay and her American Federation for Children, a “dark money” group that is pushing this bill and, just coincidentally, spent $257,000 on campaigns to get certain legislators elected last year.

Of that, it spent $9,370 on Worsley, according to state records. But Worsley is a big supporter of Mesa Public Schools, and I’m told he hasn’t committed to voting for the voucher bill.

Worsley declined to discuss the bill. But others at the state Capitol tell me there’s a big push underway to get him to jump on board the Atchison, Topeka and Sabotage the Schools Express.

“He’s under terrible pressure,” one lawmaker told me.

Some are speculating that Worsley’s bill to create a special taxing district to build a new arena for the Coyotes could find new life if he agrees to support the voucher bill. That, however, seems unlikely given public sentiment about subsidizing another hockey arena.

And given that Worsley is a guy known for doing what he thinks is right rather than what is politically expedient, I just don’t see him selling out the public schools — or approving this major new expense in a state that already can’t adequately fund its obligations.

Not even when the folks driving this train offer him something sweet. Not even when they threaten to run him over. Stand your ground, senator.