A judge has slapped down efforts by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry to block people from voting whether to hike income taxes on the rich to generate $690 million a year for education.

The government’s decision to drop a bribery case involving a former regulator and utility owner leaves the question of what will come of its parent investigation.

The fate of whether voters get to decide on an income tax on the wealthy could depend on what math a judge decides is appropriate.

Officials of two organizations known for anonymous spending on political campaigns filed suit late Thursday to keep Arizonans from voting on a measure that would make the practice illegal.

In a complaint filed June 11 in Maricopa County Superior Court, attorneys Kory Langhofer and Joseph Kanefield listed 20 reasons for why the majority of the 2,156 signatures Syms collected must be disqualified.

Lawyers say House Speaker J.D. Mesnard likely wouldn’t have had to comply with a motion seeking to force him to release documents related to the investigation of former Rep. Don Shooter, even if it had been successful.

Foes of universal school vouchers told a judge Friday she cannot consider a challenge brought by those who want to keep voters from getting the last word on the plan.

A nonprofit funded at least in part by the Koch brothers is financing a six-figure TV campaign that a spokesman said is designed to "educate'' Arizonans about school choice.

Foes of universal school vouchers are counting on a gap in state law to preserve their bid to force a public vote on the issue.

What is now Proposition 305 will not only put the fate of school voucher expansion into the hands of Arizonans, but is also likely to set precedent on how the Voter Protection Act applies to referenda.