By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
Key Points:
- State lawmakers face accusations of illegally giving away public funds
- AG Mayes agrees a $1 million appropriation to Turf Paradise violates Gift Clause
- AG previously targeted questionable public spending
State lawmakers are once again on the cusp of being found to have illegally given away public funds.
In new court filings, Attorney General Kris Mayes said she agrees with challengers that a $1 million appropriation to Phoenix racetrack Turf Paradise in the new state budget violates the Gift Clause of the Arizona Constitution. The move paves the way for Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Herrod to sign an order on his desk declaring the funding illegal and barring the Arizona Department of Racing from distributing the cash.
In exchange, Howard Mechanic and Ralph Hess, the plaintiffs in the case, will drop their objection to lawmakers giving another $1 million to the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association to be used to promote racing and provide more dollars to give to winners of horse racing in the state.
