Difference in tax measure?s language deemed minor error

July 18, 2012

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett said he would not put a sales tax measure on the ballot because paper and electronic language differed. Early Wednesday morning a Maricopa County Superior Court judge decided that it was a minor error and that the measure is valid.

Quality Education and Jobs Initiative sponsor Ann-Eve Pedersen says that she’s pleased the judge found the measure in full compliance with the law. She thinks Bennett needed to seek a better legal opinion before deciding to reject the initiative’s 300,000 signatures. Pedersen says she’s also concerned by Bennett’s contact with the opposition before rejecting the measure. She says the opposition won’t accept that education is important to voters. Pedersen says 80 percent of the provision is for education, but there are also provisions for children’s health and transportation projects.