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Arizona House Majority Leader Allen Blames Vetoes On Politics

By Tom Maxedon
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Saturday, April 21, 2018 - 10:12am
Updated: Monday, April 23, 2018 - 8:46am
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Urging lawmakers to focus on teacher pay, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey vetoed ten bills Friday advanced by House Republicans.

The measures included regulation of electric bicycles and public meetings as well as warning parents about the dangers of interscholastic sports.

According to Capitol Media Services, the move caught Arizona House Majority Leader John Allen by surprise. "We try real hard to send up good policy bills. These were vetoed because of politics, not policy.''

Ducey wrote ten identical veto messages that said in part, “Please send me a budget that gives teachers a 20-percent pay raise by 2020 and restores additional assistance.”

Teachers are poised to strike Thursday if state legislators do not pass a budget that identifies a clear plan for educator and support staff.