Extra!!! Superior Court Shoots Down Arizona Public Illness Legislation

 


This literally just in: A Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of plaintiffs in their lawsuit to void elements of budget reconciliation bills passed this summer that banned virus mitigation measures by Arizona schools.

This is a ruling that should surprise no one. Plaintiffs argued that the restrictions violate the Arizona constitution two ways. First, bills must be about one thing. The legislation in question, containing both budget and public illness measures, are about more than one thing.  Second, bills must clearly describe their purpose in the title. Legislation labeled "budget reconciliation" don't make clear that it also contains public illness measures.

Arizona Public Health Association Director Will Humble thinks Attorney General Mark Byrnovich will surely appeal to the Supreme Court. And he probably will, to further burnish is credentials as a public servant who is stupid about the pandemic. But I predict he will get nowhere on appeal because the facts are so clear and obvious.

Unfortunately, the legislation in question was just codifying some reckless executive orders made by Governor Ducey. As far as I know those haven't gone away. He will surely try to use them to bully schools into submission.

Image by Arizona Capitol Museum

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