BREAKING: In New Ducey #20x2020 Proposal, Koch-funded "Freedom Schools" A Big Winner, Tucson Unified's Taxpayers A Big Loser

(UPDATE, 4pm: We have published a 13-page summary of the new budget reconciliation bill's provisions and an 8-page spreadsheet, at the bottom of this article. These come from the Legislature's website.)

Arizona's House Democratic Caucus had a chance to pick through Governor Doug Ducey's (R-AZ) new #20x2020 budget proposal designed (in part) to end the #RedForEd mass teacher walkout, and they uncovered some interesting items.

Arizona's Politics monitored a good portion of it through the Legislature's video feeds, and confirmed these news items with the lawmakers. They were receiving the briefing from Stephan Shephed, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's Fiscal Note Manager. (If we receive a response from the Governor's Office, we will pass it along.)

1) 

BREAKING: Under questioning from Rep. @EngelForArizona (at @AZHouseDems caucus), new @dougducey proposed budget that includes the #20x2020 for teachers includes a 36% RAISE for the "freedom schools" - the Koch-funded schools at @ASU and @UofA.  (Maybe #RedForEd aimed low?)

— Arizona's Politics (@AZs_Politics) April 30, 2018

The 2 schools were already set to receive $5.5M from the state. The new proposal adds $2.0M. Rep. Kirsten Engel (D-LD10) told Arizona's Politics "This is outrageous."

Further, Rachel Leingang from the Arizona Republic had earlier shared this Associated Press report about how the Koch-funded freedom school at the publicly-funded George Mason University gave the Charles Koch Foundation a say in hiring and firing of the professors at the university.

2)

BREAKING: Looks like Rep. @DrRandyFriese, @kenclarkforaz & other @AZHouseDems just uncovered a part of the new #20x2020 proposal that is designed to sock it to @tucsonunified, by moving part of desegregation funding from the primary prop tax classification to secondary.#RedForEd

— Arizona's Politics (@AZs_Politics) April 30, 2018

Rep. Clark (D-LD24) replied to our reporting by saying "It’s been a long-time goal of he GOP to cut Deseg. This would effectively force those school districts that suffer the most from segregation to pay for desegregation. This is the Victim Blaming Budget in so many ways."

It’s been a long-time goal of he GOP to cut Deseg. This would effectively force those school districts that suffer the most from segregation to pay for desegregation. This is the Victim Blaming Budget in so many ways.

— Ken Clark (@kenclarkforaz) April 30, 2018

Rep. Friese (D-LD9) notes that the new provision will shift $18M from the state to the effected districts' taxpayers, and that 90% of that amount - or, approximately $16.2M - will be borne by TUSD's taxpayers.

3.

BREAKING: Under questioning from Rep. @DrRandyFriese (at @AZHouseDems caucus), uncovered that this new budget with the new #20x2020 proposal DOES NOT yet include @dougducey 's $11M for SROs (officers) in #SchoolSafety plan.#RedForEd

— Arizona's Politics (@AZs_Politics) April 30, 2018

   Arizona FY2019 Budget Bill Summary by arizonaspolitics on Scribd

   Arizona FY19 Budget Plan Spreadsheet by arizonaspolitics on Scribd

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