By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
Claiming Proposition 123 was illegally enacted, a group of citizens is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to review — and overturn — the voter-approved measure to put more dollars into public schools.
Attorney Thomas Ryan, who represents Advocates for School Trust Lands, contends the state cannot legally increase the amount of money being taken from state trust proceeds without first getting congressional approval.
He said the trust is a contract between the state and the federal government, which gave Arizona the lands a century ago. Ryan said that means it cannot be unilaterally altered by state officials.
