At their final hearing on so-called free speech issues at Arizona’s public universities, Republican lawmakers again threatened the schools with budget cuts. GOP lawmakers like Sen. Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) have for months alleged that Arizona State University discouraged conservatives from speaking at two events – even though both events took place on campus as scheduled. A conservative donor pulled his funding from the school, and ASU then fired an employee who brought in conservative speakers. That employee told lawmakers at previous hearings she was being punished for her conservative views, but school officials said they just couldn’t afford to keep her on.
