By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org

PHOENIX – Public sector unions have not been shy about taking their tempter tantums to the court system when they don’t get their way in state capitols.

Too frequently, that strategy works. The unions shop for friendly judges who give them what they want, in defiance of decisions made by lawmakers who were chosen by the people.

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

Fortunately the Arizona Supreme Court did not allow itself to be used in this manner in a high-profile showdow between the education establishment and state lawmakers.

Last week the justices refused to hear a lawsuit, filed by the Arizona Education Association (the state’s largest teachers union) and the Arizona School Boards Association, demanding that the legislature fully adjust for inflation when funding K-12 schools.

Lawmakers, dealing with a severe slowdown in tax revenue, argued the state can’t afford the extra $55 million that a full adjustment would require.

The plaintiffs based their argument on a 2000 law requiring the legislature to adjust K-12 funding for inflation. But lawmakers note that the statute gives them “leeway on what approach to take on providing inflation funding,” according to a story published by AzCentral.com.

The state attorney general argued that intervention by the courts in the legislative appropriations process would violate the separation of powers between various branches of government.

The situation is Arizona is hardly unique. States across the nation have been forced to cut K-12 funding due to the recession. And school boards are stuck in the middle, because most of their recourses are eaten up by runway union labor costs.

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

Here’s an idea for Arizona lawmakers. Follow the example of Wisconsin. In that state, lawmakers took away many collective bargaining privileges that allowed the unions to suck huge amounts of money from tight school budgets.

With the greedy unions sidelined, Wisconsin school boards have been free to use more of their existing resources to meet student needs. As a result, layoffs of younger teachers and cancellation of student programs have slowed considerably.

In far too many school districts around the nation, teachers unions controls the budget process and hordes the bulk of the money. Take that ability away from them and there’s more money for students.

It’s really that simple.