Senate President Ken Bennett on April 5 apologized to the GOP caucus — specifically to its two moderates — for failing to inform members that he and House Speaker Jim Weiers were going to hold a press conference March 31 to promote legislation on classroom funding, and that they would appear in television ads seeking public support for the proposal.

“The public is supposed to call us, and we know nothing about this after you have a press conference and then you’re on TV,” Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-8, said to Mr. Bennett.

Sen. Toni Hellon, R-26, chairman of the K-12 Education Committee, followed with, “The point is we’re being lectured constantly on keeping this caucus together… and then off on some side road is the fact that the caucus is not together,” she said.

Mr. Bennett and Mr. Weiers had announced they would seek a legislative referendum for the 2006 ballot that would require that 65 cents of every dollar for public education go directly to classroom costs, such as teacher salaries and materials. A national group, First Class Education, is promoting the plan in Arizona and other states and spent $50,000 on local TV ads.

But Mr. Bennett acknowledged that time maybe running out for passage of the proposal in the current legislative session.

Speaker Weiers: ‘Things Got Out Of Hand’

“I will take half the blame for this,” Mr. Weiers told his House caucus. “I stand before you embarrassed — things got out of hand.”

Rep. Mark Anderson, R-18, chairman of the House Education Committee, said he had been informed of the press conference ahead of time.

Mr. Bennett said “we stubbed our toe,” and as the Legislature heads toward a late April target date for adjournment, there might not be time to consider the proposed referendum. He added that the original plan was to have a citizen initiative drive to place the funding proposition on the ballot.

Mr. Weiers said he wants comments on the proposal from House Republicans and that he would consider letting the Legislature define “classroom spending.”

Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-17, said, “These are huge issues and I’m not sure that we can do [a ballot measure] right now.”

Bennett: Criticisms ‘Well Founded’

Mr. Bennett apologized directly to Ms. Allen and Ms. Hellon.

“I accept your observations and criticisms as well founded,” he said. “I apologize that the press conference occurred without having laid some of the groundwork with members of the caucus. Given the fact that we stubbed our toe as far as the timing of communicating with people before the press conference and the ads ran, we may not be in a position to push through a late introduction at all . . . maybe we end up back at an initiative.”

Sen. John Huppenthal, R-20, urged Mr. Bennett to consider the effects of such a proposal on charter schools.

Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-22, told a reporter, “I don’t think he’s got the votes over here… mostly because of not telling anybody it was coming. It was disrespectful to the caucus.”

Sen. Ron Gould, R-3, said, “Let’s accept his apology and move on.”

Senate Whip Jay Tibshraeny, R-21, said Mr. Bennett is doing a good job, and the caucus is united.

Senate Democrat leader Linda Aguirre, D-16, said Mr. Bennett also apologized to minority leaders, but added the classroom-funding proposal has no support in her party. —