Pubdate: Fri, 08 May 2015
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Ej Montini

BURNING TAX DOLLARS TO SEND POT INITIATIVE UP IN SMOKE

Arizona laws says, essentially, an elected politician can't overtly 
try to sway an election while on taxpayer time and on the taxpayer's dime.

Sort of the way that you or I would get fired -- justifiably -- if we 
told our bosses we'd be out of the office a few hours handing out 
pamphlets for a politician or a political cause.

Elected officials get paid to work for the people, not to push 
personal agendas.

Unless, apparently, they're afraid their side might lose.

According to an article by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, 
Attorney General Mark Brnovich now says it's okay for public 
officials to participate in "public education campaigns" for a 
particular cause as long as they don't come right out and tell you how to vote.

It's a very fine legal line -- if you look at it as a lawyer.

If you look at it as a regular person, it's a sneaky way of getting 
around the law. In this case, it's an opportunity for opponents of 
what is expected to be a marijuana legalization initiative on the 2016 ballot.

Brnovich is doing a favor for Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk. 
She has taken the lead among those opposing marijuana legalization. 
So she'll be able to go out in her capacity as a prosecutor and 
"educate" people on the evil of marijuana legalization, without 
presenting the other side, as long as she doesn't specifically ask 
people to vote against the measure.

And still get paid.

There will be plenty of private money spent on campaigns for and 
against any proposal to legalize small amounts of marijuana for 
personal consumption. That's how it was in other states where the 
issue has come up. That's how it should be. Private money.

Early indications are that Arizona residents are not shocked by 
legalization. A Behavior Research Center Rocky Mountain Poll from a 
while back found that 51 percent of Arizona residents were in favor 
of legalizing marijuana.

That's not only reflection of changing attitude but a recognition of 
the economics involved. The movement to legalize marijuana isn't 
being led by a bunch of red-eyed stoners munching on Doritos. They're 
business people. And the product they propose to sell, legally, could 
bring in a lot of tax money.

I understand the opposition to the idea. I'd expect opponents to make 
what they believe to be a moral argument against legalization. But 
moral arguments should be made in a moral way. You can't claim the 
moral high ground when taxpayer money is helping you to make your case.

The lawyer for the Marijuana Policy Project of Arizona told Fisher 
that this could lead to a lawsuit.

"The opposition on this issue has crossed the line in several other 
states," he said.

We pay to defend public officials in lawsuits.

So, if our elected officials first burn your tax dollars opposing 
this idea, then get sued, even more of our cash will go up in smoke 
defending them.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom