Legislator faces conflict inquiries over voucher bill

A Chandler lawmaker is defending his role in crafting legislation to create a new special tax credit to help students attend private and parochial schools, despite his role in running an organization that makes money from an existing program.

Rep. Steve Yarbrough, a Republican first elected to the Legislature in 2002, said constituents sent him to the Capitol to affect legislation and vote on issues. And Yarbrough said he already was involved in the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization, which he helped found, even before he was elected.

He said, though, it remains an open question of whether his organization, which pays him $96,000 a year, will take advantage of - and benefit from - the legislation he is putting together. That is legislation he hopes to have enacted in a special legislative session this week to get on the books in time for the new school year.

Yarbrough, an attorney, has never made a secret of his involvement in trying to divert tax dollars to help children attend parochial schools.

And even some parents who called a press conference Monday at the Capitol to complain conceded that he has broken no laws or even House ethics rules. That's because state statute says individuals can vote on matters in which they have a financial interest if there are at least nine others in the state who also would benefit.

Lisa Hawkins also said there may be a role for these tax credits, though she complained about a move she and others say diverts funds from public schools.

Hawkins said, though, she is concerned about the speed with which this measure is being pushed through - a measure Yarbrough wants enacted by the end of the week but has yet to produce a version for public review.

"It's all right to have this conversation," she said. "And it's OK to have it in an expedient, transparent manner."

She said, though, it is being pushed through rapidly without proper review.

The issue also has taken on partisan overtones.

House Minority Leader David Lujan, D-Phoenix, criticized the push for a quick fix - one that would affect state revenues - even before lawmakers have dealt with the budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins in less than seven weeks, and an anticipated $3.3 billion deficit.