Bill has passed, but daily criticism in House endures

For many Republican lawmakers, the fight over school vouchers ended earlier this month when they expanded the state’s program.

But for opponents, the battle is far from over.

Ever since the April 6 vote, they have kept up a daily drumbeat of protest at the House of Representatives, speaking through Democratic representatives about their concerns that the state is eroding public education. The daily testimonials read by lawmakers during general floor sessions have grown so long — and, to some, so tiresome — that House leaders have changed protocols to limit them.

And they’re threatening stricter moves if people speak out of turn.

The teachers and parents who have shown up at the invitation of Democrats — and who stand in the

gallery as their statements are read on the floor — say they’re not giving up. They’re insulted that lawmakers are waving off their concerns about schools as simply a whiny attempt to keep debating the vouchers bill.

Anne Ellsworth said vouchers are not the point.

“My statement has nothing to do with the ESAs,” she said, a reference to the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts that are Arizona’s version of a voucher program. “It has to do with (lawmakers’) obligation to fund public education.”

On Thursday, after Ellsworth corralled House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, he invited her to his office, along with three other parents, to discuss their concerns.

She said he was gracious, and she appreciated the opportunity to talk to him about what she sees as inadequate funding for public education. But she doesn’t know if the message resonated.

“I don’t think they’re used to parents coming in, informed,” she said later. “I don’t think they have any idea what to do with us.”

She and others want answers on how the state is going to live up to its duty to fund public schools.

“If this constitutional obligation were being met by our governor and state Legislature, we would not be in the crisis we’re in now,” Ellsworth wrote in the statement she read privately to Mesnard and that Rep. Randy Friese, D-Tucson, later read on the House floor.

She cited “overcrowded classrooms, a devastating teacher shortage, loss of arts and music education, and buildings that are overdue for necessary maintenance.”

Dawn Penich-Thacker said she’s heard lawmaker complaints that parents like her are paid protesters.

“That’s just offensive,” she said. “We’re your people; you represent us.”

As the testimonials got longer and longer, lawmakers grew restless. There were a few eye rolls. Many got up and roamed around the House floor. Others slipped out to the lounge, not uncommon when things are happening that don’t interest them.

House leaders imposed new guidelines, but Democrats found ways to circumvent them.

On Monday, the statements took up 171⁄2 minutes before lawmakers could start voting on bills. The lengthy statements were delaying work, Mesnard said.

He moved lawmakers’ open forum for comments to the end of the legislative day, an inconvenience to parents and teachers because there isn’t a fixed ending time.

And then, on Thursday, after Democrats started reading guests’ education statements as they stood to explain their votes on unrelated bills, Mesnard threatened to change the rules.

If one more person did so, Mesnard said, he would end the ability of lawmakers to make any comments.

“I am imploring you, we are all at the mercy of one member,” he said in a stern voice.

The explain-your-vote rule has stood for years, he said. “It’s never been changed, and it would just be sad,” he said.

That ended the practice, at least for the week.

On Friday, Rep. Isela Blanc, D-Tempe, said she didn’t know if the parents would continue to show up. She organized the effort to bring parents and advocates to the Capitol to read their concerns into the public record. But, Blanc said, they’re energized and she’s confident they will keep up the pressure for school funding.

Ellsworth is working on just that. She’s part of a group working on a plan to inform fellow parents on the education funding, so they can better make their case to lawmakers.

“I don’t think they’re used to parents coming in, informed. I don’t think they have any idea what to do with us.” ANNE ELLSWORTH ARIZONA PARENT