Arizona Judges Block Two Republican-Backed Ballot Measures

Two separate Maricopa County Superior Court judges blocked Republican-backed ballot measures from appearing on Arizona's November general election ballot this week. The rulings target initiatives designed by state legislative leaders to limit labor union power and protect specific scholarship funds.

Judge Greg Como ruled that Proposition 143 (HCR 2040) is unconstitutional because it illegally combined two unrelated issues into one vote. The measure sought to ban the use of public funds to aid labor organizations and prohibit government negotiations with any labor organization. While GOP leaders claimed the measure focused on school districts, the court found the language applied broadly to all public employee unions, including police and firefighters.

In a separate ruling, Judge Joseph Kreamer blocked Proposition 145 (HCR 2048), which aimed to prevent the state from confiscating Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds from military families. Judge Kreamer determined that a specific provision in the measure violated the state's single-subject rule by attempting to invalidate future legislation and ballot measures. Opponents argued the provision was a "poison pill" intended to nullify the Protect Education Act, a competing initiative seeking to limit ESA eligibility for high-income families.

Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro, who co-authored both measures, intend to appeal the ruling on Proposition 145 to the Arizona Supreme Court. The Goldwater Institute also plans to join the appeal.