State Senator Melvin announced his exploratory committee for Governor. He says his bid “will focus on giving every school student a $9,000 voucher to attend any school, public or private, of the parent’s choice.” Melvin sees that choice “as the only real solution to improving academic performance.”[i]
Let’s get real! Arizona has over one million students in public education.[ii] At $9,000 each, that equals $9 Billion. Arizona’s entire 2013 budget was only $8.6 Billion.[iii] Vouchers may put Federal funds at risk and significantly reduce Arizona’s revenue. Assuming parents will use these vouchers, where is the funding coming from?
Vouchers were deemed unconstitutional in Arizona in 2008.[iv] Additionally, Arizona has had open enrollment since 1994 and the majority of parents still choose their neighborhood schools (almost 90%.) Every school should be good! School choice is not the magic wand Melvin would have us believe, but it may well be a fairy tale.
[i] http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/state-sen-al-melvin-to-run-for-arizona-governor/article_13f5d53e-ab8f-11e2-b7bb-0019bb2963f4.html
Restore Reason 
This guy is a joker… he embarrassed himself at a “Meet the County Leaders” event in Maricopa when I brought up education. He is full of talking points and thats it… no substance. Whoever runs against him will have an easy go of it in debates… he is not a quick thinker. He thinks school choice is the be all end all, but has no concept of the fact that most “for profit” charter schools are simply robbing the state blind and have anemic graduation rates. This guy does not know his stuff… he is easy pickings.