Arnold v Sarn: No Crisis in Mental Health Care here!

Excuse me, but the governor's aide just said that she doesn't think the public mental health system in this state is in crisis - it just needs a little improving. It appears as if she may think the judge overseeing the Arnold v- Sarn litigation (of 20+ years ago now?) is over-reacting. I wonder if she heard about what happened to Marcia Powell?


Really: "Not in Crisis???"
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Mental-health plan rejected

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Dec. 24, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

The judge in a long-running legal battle over mental-health care said Gov. Jan Brewer's

plan doesn't offer the relief needed for most of the mentally ill in Maricopa County. 

But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Karen O'Connor also indicated she isn't ready to embrace a proposal from mental-health advocates to recommend changes to the mental-health system.

Instead, O'Connor issued a series of questions for the advocates and gave them until next Wednesday to answer them.

In a ruling filed Wednesday, O'Connor said Brewer's proposal to create a pilot program

won't work because it would only affect a fraction of the mentally-ill population - about 3 percent.

Earlier this year, O'Connor declared the system in crisis in the wake of a highly critical audit and called for proposals to remedy it.

O'Connor did say Brewer's pilot-program plan might be considered as part of a longer-range overhaul of the system but that it doesn't reach far enough to address the current crisis.

The judge also said she was disappointed that the governor did not talk with the mental-health advocates who brought the lawsuit before coming up with her pilot plan.

Joe Kanefield, the governor's legal counsel, said the judge acknowledged Brewer's concern that the state's fiscal crisis could hamper efforts to do a systemwide overhaul.

But he said the governor differs with the judge's perception that the system is in emergency mode.

"The governor's position is that the system is not in crisis, but definitely can be improved," he said.

Any improvement, however, must come from the Legislature, which sets state policy, and not from the courts, Kanefield added.

 

AEA Legislative Update: The Deals Are Done.

From Doug Kilgore at the Arizona Educators Association Legislative Center: Thanks, Doug. You've been a good resource.

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December 14 - 18, 2009

Inside This Issue...

• Arizona Legislature Approves Agency Cut Bill
• News Links

Arizona Legislature Approves Agency Cut Bill

The state legislature's fifth special session ended today after the House approved S1001, a bill that would cut over $200 million from agency budgets.

The Senate had already approved the bill on Thursday, but House Democrats insisted on being given enough time to read through the bill and would not waive the three-day rule required by the state constitution to consider a bill.

The bill would cut 7.5 percent from state agency budgets and sweeps some special purpose funds.  When Governor Brewer originally called for the special session, the agenda was going to also include ballot referrals for the one-cent sales tax and three-year suspension of the Voter Protection Act, Prop 105, which protects spending on voter approved programs from cut-happy legislators.  Due to the number of votes, neither of these ballot measures were put on the agenda and the agency cut bill was the only one that ended up being voted on this special session.

Since the sales tax referral wasn't on the agenda for this special session, it has missed the deadline to be put on the March ballot.  And although the suspension of Prop 105 didn't get voted on, this likely isn't the last attempt we'll see at removing it in an attempt to go after Prop 301 education funds and other funding for vital health and human services.

Arizona needs to start getting serious about closing up its 1.5 billion dollar deficit.  Spending cuts are not the only answer.  AEA and the Arizona Budget Coalition have outlined several budget options that do not rely on cuts.  This special session is the same as past sessions where the legislature is divided along party lines and a balanced budget is not reached.  Legislators need to come up with a bipartisan solution to balancing the budget that does not reduce Arizona's opportunities for future growth.

News Links

Tuition Aid Eludes Needy
Scholarships not widely known, fall far shy of school expenses

Is Horne Trying to Out-Thomas Thomas?
Clearly, Superintendent Tom Horne is in election mode. He revved up his campaign for attorney general this morning by putting out a press release, decrying the fact that students who live in Mexico are crossing the border at Lukeville to attend public school in Ajo.

Tom Boone Decides Against Senate Bid
Rep. Tom Boone has dropped plans for a state Senate bid, saying he's too busy with a business that caters to school districts to take on another two years at the statehouse.

Contact Us
The Legislative Update will be on holiday break for the next two weeks and return on January 8, 2010.  Due to organizational changes, future Legislative Updates will be sent out by Sheenae Shannon, Communications Organizational Consultant, who can be e-mailed at sheenae.shannon@arizonaea.org.

Classic Arizona "Democracy": One-party rule.

We have to get rid of these people in November, folks...if they refuse to even acknowledge us, how can they possibly represent us? The Right is doing everything they can to destroy the ability of the rest of us to effect progressive social change through constitutionally-established processes - as is the prison industry, sneaking in and courting town leadership at invitation-only PR events designed to create the appearance of community support for a project which is really quite controversial and divisive. Frankly, I think that's precisely what will destroy their grip on the American people in the end: they are so busy creating illusions to manipulate us with that they never end up dealing with the truth - and in fact, generate even more social problems in the course of trying to mask the source of them. We aren't going to fall for that forever... I hope.

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Arizona House gives preliminary OK to budget bill

Associated Press - December 18, 2009 5:24 PM ET 

PHOENIX (AP) - A bill to reduce the state's budget shortfall is close to the finish line in the Arizona Legislature's current special session.


The House gave preliminary approval along party lines Friday for majority Republicans' bill to reduce the projected $1.6 billion shortfall by roughly $195 million.


It does that through spending cuts and raids on special-purpose funds that could result in state employee pay cuts, closures of state parks and reductions of social programs.

A formal House vote is scheduled Saturday morning, when lawmakers are expected to adjourn what will have been a 3-day special session.

With Democrats voting against the bill, the Senate passed it on Thursday on the first day of the special session.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

5th Special Legislative Session AEA Alert

Doug Kilgore's latest post from the AZ teacher's union on the upcoming special session (he refers to Tuesday the 14, which is the 15th, so I'm still confused about exactly who will be at the capitol tomorrow - but that means we may have another day of calling and emailing legislators before the votes are actually in.):

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December 7-11, 2009

Inside This Issue...

• Special Session Still in Doubt
• More Cuts to Public Schools?
• Legislative Panel Shirks Responsibility on Tuition Tax Credit Problems
• News Links
  

Special Session Still in Doubt

Governor Brewer, Senate President Burns, and House Speaker Adams are still attempting to put together an agreement on some solutions to Arizona's continuing budget deficit. As of today, their plan to convene a special session on Tuesday, December 14 appears to be dead and attempts to call legislators together later in the week is looking less and less likely.

Unlike the last special session, there have been discussions with Democrats in both the House and the Senate this time. It seems likely that a Republican-only strategy will not allow enough votes to pass the Governor's proposed temporary sales tax increase. The House Republican Caucus is pushing hard for attaching corporate and personal income tax cuts to the deal which would actually increase Arizona's budget deficit in FY2011. The Senate is more likely to support a bi-partisan solutions with a straight sales tax earmarked for spending in education, health and human services, and public safety.

The Governor has asked the legislature to include a provision that would send a ballot measure to the voters allowing legislators to ignore the Voter Protection Act, a constitutional provision that protects spending on programs passed by the voters from legislative tampering. Such a measure would allow the legislature to raid Proposition 103 education funds and other voter approved programs. Democrats have opposed this and it is unclear if there is enough Republican support to pass it without them.

These discussions continue to center on the same issues that have been addressed and re-addressed since early in the year. There are additional solutions available, including other types of tax increases, closing tax loopholes and tax credits, and some remaining one-time fixes that buy time until a tax increase can be passed. View the latest budget options developed by AEA and the Arizona Budget Coalition.

More Cuts to Public Schools?

Arizona has now cut all that is allowed under the maintenance-of-effort (MOE) provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA - the federal stimulus plan). Some influential legislators like Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) are suggesting that the Governor ask for a waiver from the MOE provision and if the waiver is denied, defy the ARRA provision and risk losing other federal funds. Such an action would also put Arizona out of the running for hundreds of millions of dollars of Race to the Top Grant funds for K-12 education.

It appears that the next budget battle for public education will be to hold the line on additional cuts in order to continue to meet the MOE provisions. Again, the extreme elements that are deeply entrenched in the House and Senate Republican Caucuses will be pushing for more K-12 cuts and must be stopped if Arizona wants a reasoned solution to our deficit.  

Arizona has already spent the entire $1.1 billion provided for public education in the stimulus based on its pledge to abide by the MOE which requires spending for state assistance to public schools to fall no lower than its FY2006 level. Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Governor Brewer, said cutting below "maintenance-of-effort" levels is not an option. Other legislators from her own party will not likely take no for an answer on this issue without a fight if recent history repeats itself.

Legislative Panel Shirks Responsibility on Tuition Tax Credit Problems

In August, the East Valley Tribune published an investigative report that showed the Arizona tuition tax credit for private schools program is often abused, lacks oversight, and has failed to increase to any significant degree the access that disadvantaged children have to private schools. Other media and private citizens' reports uncovered additional violations of the public trust. In response to pressure from Democratic House members who launched their own bi-partisan study and the public, House Speaker Kirk Adams appointed a committee to form recommendations to deal with the issue.

To the surprise of most observers this legislative panel completed its work and recommended increasing the amount of the dollar for dollar tax credits by 50% while rejecting measures to require the funds to be spent on families below certain income levels and limiting the amount of funds being kept by school tuition organizations for their own use and profit. Some reform measures were adopted but lack the fiscal accountability measures that would eliminate the abuses found in the investigative reports. The recommendations fail to disallow wealthy parents from working directly with school tuition organizations to ensure that their children receive the benefits of the tax credit.

These recommendations would still allow owners of school tuition organizations to keep 10% of the tax credit dollars for their own use and use those dollars and dollars from other school tuition organizations to build for-profit business ventures that capitalize on the use of other tax credit dollars. Representative Steve Yarbrough (R - Chandler) has built a multi-million group of businesses using tuition tax credit dollars.

Testimony from Representatives Andy Biggs (R-Gilbert), Rick Murhpy (R-Peoria) and Debbie Lesko (R-Peoria) defended the tuition tax credit program and downplayed the need for many of the recommendations that had been suggested to protect our tax dollars from abuse. Senator Tom Chabin (D-Flagstaff) and Jack Brown (D-St. Johns) argued for stricter oversight, an income threshold for recipients of the tuition funds, and limits on school tuition organizations. Learn more. 

News Links

 

Income limit nixed for tuition scholarships

A legislative panel refused Thursday to recommend changes to Arizona's Private School Tax Credits program that would require income limits for families receiving tuition scholarships or reduce the amount of money charities can use to administer the program.  

Schools take another budget hit

Legislature's vote to have impact on local districts

Local school officials are bemoaning the latest round of budget cuts from the state and looking for ways to minimize the damage to education.  

Science education in Arizona seen as key to new jobs

Teachers, businesses say public funding isn't enough for high-quality education

Daisy Alvarez rolls black ink onto a glass surface and presses her fingertips onto it, leaving prints that other seventh- and eighth-graders in her class dust to reveal the swirls and arches that make her unique.

Ditching tenure tells good teachers: Go elsewhere

In 1921, California was the first state to establish teacher tenure; in 2009, Arizona became the first state to abolish it. Never one for half-measures, this month the Arizona Legislature eliminated tenure, creating yet another reason for good teachers to teach elsewhere.  

Contact Us
 
Please contact Doug Kilgore, Government Relations Organizational Consultant, doug.kilgore@arizonaea.org for questions and comments.

Budget Crisis Solved: Car Washes! Raffles! Donations!

AZ legislature asks for donations

December 2, 12:52 PMLiberal ExaminerMarlene Phillips

Arizona is in trouble. Facing a $2.2 billion deficit, and with a November Pew Center study showing the state as having the second worst fiscal problem in the country (tied with Rhode Island behind California), state legislatures know they must come up with a solution. But the Republican controlled legislature refuses to consider raising taxes to address the problem. Thirty nine Republican legislators went so far as to sign a no-tax pledge at the urging of conservative Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform based in D.C.

With their hands tied by that no-tax pledge, this week Republican legislators floated another idea to save the state of Arizona: ask for donations.

Calling it the "I Didn't Pay Enough" fund, Republican legislators want to let Arizonans voluntarily tax themselves by adding more to the amount they pay in state income tax. Thirty four state representatives, all Republican, have already backed the idea, and their erstwhile leader, Grover Norquist, heartily approves, calling it "a noble idea...so that people who feel they are undertaxed have a place to send their money."

According to the report in the East Valley Tribune the sponsor of the bill admits donations won't make a dent in the overwhelming Arizona state deficit. Republican Representative Judy Burges agreed that at least part of the reason she proposed the bill was to make an ideological and political point, to show up those who claim that Arizonans will pay more taxes for better services. Norquist, too, agrees it's little more than a political joke, since such funds have done little or nothing to help states in trouble in the past. When a similar bill was proposed in Kentucky under the title "Tax Me More," Norquist said: "Tax Me More Funds and their sickly low balances are just what the doctor ordered."

The editors of Arizona's two largest newspapers immediately slammed the proposal as a gimmick from the anti-tax crowd. The Arizona Republic in Phoenix published an editorial calling the idea "an ideological stunt," telling the legislature to "spare us the tax jokes" in a time of fiscal crisis. Tucson's Arizona Daily Star called the idea "a distraction," saying "it was crafted to make a point and not to solve a problem." One of Arizona's most active political blogs, Blog for Arizona, called it the latest entry from the "GOP 'Gimmicks R Us' Shop." Jeffrey Rogers, Pima County Democratic Chair, simply said the bill was "absolutely ridiculous."

Arizona is in trouble. And once again members of Arizona's GOP have shown where their real loyalty lies: with Mr. Norquist, not their own constituents. As Arizona residents wait for their legislature to propose serious solutions to the ever-growing deficit, as we watch growth lag, foreclosures mount, and the state deficit inch closer and closer to $3 billion, we wonder when legislators will finally do something to help the state they supposedly serve. Considering this latest joke from the GOP, solutions won't come from the Republican controlled legislature anytime soon. And that could mean disaster for the Grand Canyon state.

AZ Budget: New Times Coverage.

No details yet...
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Verschoor Shows Up, Burns Burns Dems; Senate Passes Budget Bills

By James King in Budget Blunders

Phoenix New Times, Mon., Nov. 23 2009 @ 2:08PM

Senate President Bob Burns

After nearly four agonizing months, the Arizona State Senate has finally passed four bills that will cut about $450 million from the state's budget.

Like most things in the Legislature, this afternoon's agreement didn't come without a little bit of drama.

First and foremost: Bravo to Senator Thayer Verschoor for actually showing up today...

(finish at the Phx New Times)

Call for Early Release of Low-risk Arizona Prisoners.

AEA Legislative update from Doug Kilgore. As he urges, call your legislator this weekend - if you click and take action (at the Arizona Education Association website), make sure you include a word about early release for prisoners:
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Legislature's Second Attempt to Cut Schools by $144 Million

Every Legislator Needs a Phone Call Today

Last week the Senate fell one vote short of cutting $144 million from public schools and $155 million from the Department of Economic Security. They want to reconsider these cuts again this week. It is time for this special session to end without additional cuts to our schools and most needy citizens. It is time to call a new special session to adopt a comprehensive solution to our budget deficit. Click and take action to make your phone calls. Ask your legislators and the governor to adjourn this special session and go back to the drawing board to develop a bipartisan and comprehensive solution to our state's budget crisis.

Sunbelt Justice, Prisoners' families, and Grace.

(The email below was sent individually to members of the AZ State Senate today, and will be emailed to the rest of the legislature by tomorrow. If I left anything out, folks, chime in now - at least contact your own legislators somehow this weekend.)

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Friday, November 20, 2009


Dear Arizona State Legislators;

This to let you know that there are more than a few voices out here in support of early release for low-risk prisoners as one of the current budget-cutting proposals. Many of those voices belong to members of prisoners' families and communities. We are especially concerned about elderly, disabled, and terminally ill prisoners, but there are some children who would love to see their healthy folks home for the holidays, too.

We want our legislators and public officals to remember that not all prisoners are "bad people", and that their punishments affect more than themselves alone - as would an act of grace. When you decide what to do with them - how you punish them, for how long, and under what kinds of conditions - think of them not only as "criminals", but as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters and friends to many of us.

Some of us have been agitating for awhile about lengthy sentences, the Department of Corrections' health services and mental health care, and deteriorating prison conditions. Others are just getting organized. Between us, it doesn't look like we can count on many legislators to go out on a limb on behalf of our loved ones. So, stand with us, feel free to follow along, or move out of the way, because there's a lot we'll need to be talking about in the coming year, and there's no gettting around all of us. We don't care what party a senator or representative is with: there are a lot of problems with the criminal justice system, and you can be "tough on crime" without being so tough us. We've been hurt, too.

"Sunbelt Justice" by UC-Irvine Professor Mona Lynch provides a good foundation for understanding the issues we'll be raising with public officials in constituent meetings, at the Capitol when the legislature re-convenes, and throughout the 2010 political campaign season. Professor Lynch will be in Tempe on December 2, speaking about her research into the history of the Arizona DOC and the potential turning point we find ourselves at. Your appearance would be a show of interest and perhaps support, but your voices and votes are what we'll be paying most attention to.

In the meantime, as you deliberate the budget crisis this weekend, please give your consideration the human aspects of authorizing an early release program. Look into the research about crime and punishment. Prison over-crowding alone takes a toll, stressing everyone from prisoners with physical and mental health conditions to corrections officers whose safety is placed at greater risk.

There are also simply more effective ways to deal with things like alcoholism or the absolute desperation of poverty than long-term incarceration. Many of these interventions would help our families, and protect our communities from further harm in the long run. We are sure Director Ryan can develop a good list of low-risk prisoners to consider for early release to community supervison, and redirect Arizona Department of Corrections' resources appropriately.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Peggy Plews
Friends of Marcia Powell

--------

"Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it.
To deprive it of oxygen.
To shame it.
To mock it.
With our art, our music, our literature,
our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance,
our sheer relentlessness,
and our ability to tell our own stories..."

- Arundhati Roy

http://freemarciapowell.blogspot.com 

AZ Legislature Stalled Until Monday

This means they'll be making back-door deals all weekend, so don't let up - call your legislators' offices if you haven't already. You know what you want them to pay attention to - now is a good time to make some noise. 

Here's the link to the house, and the senate. 

No excuses.


Below is Doug Kilgore's AEA Legislative update.

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The Senate Republican Caucus consists of 18 Senators. The 30 member Senate requires 16 votes to pass a bill.

With Senator Barbara Leff out of the country and Senator Ron Gould publicly opposed to the budget deal, Senate President Bob Burns had to count on every other Republican Senator to attend today's final vote on the budget and vote yes. It didn't happen.

Senator Thayer Verschoor (R - Gilbert) did not show up and could not be found. SB 1001 failed on a vote of 12 No, 14 Yes, and 4 Not Voting.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray changed his yes vote to no for the purpose of reconsideration on Monday, May 23.

The budget deal brokered by Governor Brewer, Senate President Bob Burns, and House Speaker Kirk Adams has stalled.

Without confirmation that the Senate would pass the budget, House Speaker Adams decided to adjourn the House until Monday at 1:30 p.m. after learning the Senate failed to pass SB 1001 and had adjourned until Monday at 10:00 a.m.

The Senate did not even vote on SB 1002 which included specifics on the $144 million in cuts to K-12 education and $155 million in cuts to the Department of Economic Security.

Two of the four budget bills did pass the Senate by wide margins with bipartisan support. These bills helped resolve an issue related to home mortgages and state agency budgets and fees.

Democrats refused to support the defeated bills because of the deep cuts to public schools and DES without any consideration of additional revenue.

It is unclear if there will be enough support on Monday to pass the budget.

In the interim there are sure to be attempts to offer deals to Democrats and pressure Senator Verschoor to support this devastating budget deal.

Observers of the budget process have seen this scenario before, and it does not serve the interests our state's citizens. With a budget deficit of over $2 billion dollars this year and nearly double that for the next year, it is time for a change of strategy. I

t is time for a bipartisan budget process the focuses on a comprehensive solution that includes a mix of new revenue streams, targeted and limited cuts, and borrowing.

The AEA, along with the broad coalition of parents, social service advocates, and others are ready to work with Republican and Democratic legislators willing to work together on a solution that moves Arizona forward.

Budget Deal Passes First Hurdles in the Senate

From Doug Kilgore, today's AEA Special Legislative Session report. It doesn't look good. Guess I'll be there tomorrow, too.


Here's the link to the CBS 5 Evening News coverage (nothing special, but my European friends might want to see who I'm complaining about all the time - Pearce is in this one.)

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"Cuts Only" is Not a Solution for Arizona's Economy or Children

 The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the four bills that constitute another partisan budget that falls far short of solving Arizona's budget crisis. Despite a continuing budget deficit of over $2 billion dollars, it appears the Republican Caucus in both the Senate and House are lined up to make more cuts to public schools and Arizona's most vulnerable citizens without even considering additional revenue options leaving a continuing deficit of nearly $1.5 billion dollars when their work is done.

A budget deal that was negotiated among Governor Brewer, Senate President Burns, and House Speaker Kirk Adams last week had little opposition in the Senate Republican Caucus and appeared ready to sail through the process today until the Homebuilders Association asked for some changes to be made to protect some of their interests. After some negotiations, the bill was amended to meet those interests and passed by the Senate Committee of the Whole. The budget package still needs to pass a final vote of the Senate and be considered by the House.

The House will go to work on the package beginning tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. Senate President Burns and House Speaker Adams expect the bills to be passed by the legislature tomorrow and sent to the Governor for her signature. The Governor is expected to sign the bill despite large cuts to public schools and the Department of Economic Security to programs that protect Arizona's most vulnerable citizens.

Coalition Offers Alternatives to Budget Cuts

AEA Vice President Andrew Morrill blasted the Republican maneuvers as "cut first, cut last (and) cut only" during a news conference on the capitol lawn today. The Arizona Budget Coalition held a news conference where leaders from the Children's Action Alliance, SEIU, and the AEA outlined specific proposals to generate up to $6.7 billion in new revenue to prevent more cuts to our schools and vital state services.

The Governor and the Legislature have the opportunity to minimize more permanently damaging budget reductions that could potentially retard or even destroy Arizona's future economy and the quality of life so treasured by its citizens. The six Revenue Options presented by ABC have the potential to provide up to $6.7 billion in additional revenue to the state. The ABC believes the options are both doable and viable in the short term while Arizona leaders take a long-term, comprehensive approach to achieve permanent fiscal balance. Review the ABC list of budget options here.

Stay Tuned

Watch for an update on the special session tomorrow and Friday. Visit www.march4schools.com to learn how you can join the citizens' movement seeking a comprehensive solution to our state's budget crisis that protects Arizona families, invests in our economy's recovery, and limits damage to our public schools.

Weds Legislative Special Session

Hey all - as far as I can tell, the legislature is meeting again in the AM for their special session. Below is the link to a news article. I'm planning on heading out then to hand out more FMP bookmark links and wave around my sign. email me before 7am, or call me by 8 if you want a ride (I like this voice in red, thing. It's seems kind of like a whisper tonight. I need to try other colors, though...).  Peg

Special session to hammer out Arizona budget begins

Reported by: Dave Biscobing Email: dbiscobing@abc15.com Last Update: 11/17 7:26 pm

Special Legislative Session Convenes Tuesday

Special Legislative Session.
3:30pm, Tuesday, November 17, 2009.

AZ State Capitol Building, Phoenix. 

Update from Doug Kilgore at the AEA:

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Partisan Budget Plan to Cut $144 Million to K-12 Schools to be Considered

Late this afternoon the Governor called a special session of the Arizona Legislature to consider a budget deal she has worked out with House Speaker Kirk Adams and Senate President Bob Burns. Legislators will convene tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., but are not expected to take any action until Wednesday or Thursday.

Early this month, Governor Brewer, Adams, and Burns outlined a budget deal that will cut $144 million from K-12 education and more than $150 million from Arizona's most vulnerable citizens. If approved the plan will leave a budget seriously out of balance and require further budget adjustments in the near future.

This plan does not even consider generating new revenue from a sales tax or any other new revenue stream.

Please contact your legislators and Governor Brewer and ask them to support a comprehensive budget package rather than depend on massive cuts to public schools to balance the budget.