(Photo by Kaely Monahan - KJZZ)

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O’Dell.

When the Arizona Legislature passed the law last year approving a drastic expansion of the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Program, the question of oversight was front and center.

The program allows students to apply for publicly-funded vouchers to pay for private schools and it was championed by advocates of school choice and opposed by those who said it took public money away from an already-ailing public school system.

One of those staunch proponents of the bill was lobbyist Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy. She had a big role in advocating for the bill, which narrowly passed.

Now a recording has surfaced that shows her speaking to private school allies about the bill and saying some things about its purpose that’s raising some concerns.

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O’Dell with The Arizona Republic obtained that tape.