Proposition 211 News Today

PHOENIX — Rebuffed in their bid to totally quash a voter-approved ban on “dark money,” two organizations involved in trying to influence Arizona politics are now trying to at least get themselves and their donors exempted from its provisions.

The group that convinced voters last year to expose "dark money'' contributions to political campaigns wants a federal judge to toss a bid by a conservative advocacy group to kill the new law.

Add it all up, and Prop. 211 will stifle Arizonans from advocating for causes they care about.

The group that convinced voters last year to outlaw "dark money'' is asking a judge to block a bid by two special interest groups to keep the law from taking effect. In new legal filings, attorney Chanele Reyes told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott McCoy there is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that voters know who is trying to influence elections.

As a Republican former Arizona governor, a Democratic former Arizona attorney general, and an independent Arizona businessman, we were proud to represent the broad political spectrum to stop anonymous political spending in our state. Voters in November approved Proposition 211 or the “Voters’ Right to Know Act," however opponents of the measure aren’t giving up.

Two groups involved in politics in Arizona want a court to void a new voter-approved law designed to prohibit “dark money’’ in political races.

It could be months before the impact of Proposition 211 is seen in Arizona, but experts are already hailing the new law aimed at exposing “dark money” in politics as a model for the rest of the nation.

The Center for Arizona Policy, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and two “Doe” donor plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission seeking to strike Proposition 211 from the books.

It is time we live up to the late Justice Scalia's hopes for our country and be brave. This initiative will do that. It deserves your support, please vote yes on Proposition 211.

Recent polls show a strong level of support among Arizona voters across the political spectrum to end “dark money” campaigns.