SPN News: Goldwater Institute update (Jan/Feb 2012)

Following up on a Goldwater Institute investigative report that uncovered how Phoenix and countless other cities spend millions of dollars on pay and benefits for city workers to do work for their unions, the Institute is challenging the union’s contract in court. It’s a case that could impact the 25 other states with similar state-constitution gift clauses. In other news, Goldwater is again challenging Arizona’s taxpayer funded campaign finance law, less than six months after the “matching funds” provision was struck down in the U.S. Supreme Court. This time, the Institute is demanding an end to the use of taxpayer money for illegal self-promotion. State officials have spent millions of taxpayer dollars on self-promotional ads ahead of a November referendum that could end public funding for political campaigns. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker keynoted the 2011 Goldwater Dinner, at which he said, “Frugality in government brings freedom and prosperity for our people.”