By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services via Arizona Capitol Times
Foes of universal school vouchers told a judge Friday she cannot consider a challenge brought by those who want to keep voters from getting the last word on the plan.
Roopali Desai told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Margaret Mahoney that the lawsuit to kill the referendum is based on claims that there are a variety of flaws in the petitions and the signatures leave circulators without sufficient signatures to put the issue on the 2018 ballot.
But Desai, representing Save Our Schools Arizona, said even if what challengers claim is true — a point she does not concede — it really does not matter.
She pointed out that the challenge to the referendum was filed by two individuals. But the long-standing Arizona law allowing individuals to challenge petitions actually was repealed by lawmakers in 2015.
Desai acknowledged that lawmakers did vote earlier this year to restore that right.
