On October 17, a Maricopa County, Arizona Superior Court heard arguments in Arizona Advocacy Network Foundation v Bennett, cv2011-009646. The issue is whether a statewide ballot measure to defund public funding should be on the November 2012 ballot. In 2011, the legislature put a proposal on the ballot to ask voters if they wish to amend the Constitution, and ban the expenditure of public funds for public funding for candidates for state office. Supporters of public funding then sued to remove the measure from the ballot. The supporters of public funding charge that the measure is invalid because it covers more than a single subject.

According to this story about the hearing, the judge is troubled by the point that the measure would defund not only the state program for state candidates, but also Tucson’s public funding for candidates for city office.