AEA Legislative Update December 4

From the AEA's Doug Kilgore, with their legislative update. This one says the Special session is being convened on Dec 14th (I'll get the date right and set it straight):


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November 30 - December 4, 2009

This Week's Issue:  

• Another Special Session?
• Signatures to Repeal Attacks on Teachers Pouring In
• News Links

Another Special Session?

Just over a week ago, the legislature completed their 4^th special session where $144 million were cut from the current year's school funding on a partisan vote. This same cut was described by Governor Brewer as "devastating" when she vetoed it to end the 3^rd special session on September 4. During the 1^st  and 2^nd special sessions, over $150 million dollars were cut from public schools. None of these special sessions were able to generate support for the new revenue stream needed to protect public schools and other vital state services from deeper cuts.

So after four special sessions, public education school funding has been cut by levels described by the Governor as devastating, yet the current state budget is still over $1.5 billion in debt this year and will fall at least $3.5 billion short next year.

Now there are plans to convene the 5^th special session on December 14^th.  Read more  . . .

Signatures to Repeal Attacks on Teachers Pouring In

Thousands of school employees are organizing to convince the legislature to repeal a set of punitive laws that attack the teaching profession. These laws were slipped into the budget passed during the 3^rd special session of the legislature and signed by the Governor on September 4, 2009.

These laws were designed to silence the voice of teachers who have worked hand-in-hand with parents and other public education supporters for a comprehensive and balanced approach to resolving our state's budget crisis. But it is having the opposite impact. Teachers and school employees are circulating petitions in communities throughout Arizona. As they do, they are beginning to develop reports on the impact of budget cuts and proposed budget cuts on their own schools to share with parents and the community.

Learn more, read what others are saying about the issue , and get involved.

News Links

Cutback in class supplies puts strain on educators

Amid budget shortfall, some teachers pay for items out of their own pockets

Some Valley educators teach in high-tech classrooms, some in low-tech versions, but they now all have to deal with the same issue: shrinking classroom supplies.

Valley schools expect big money losses

The three largest school districts in Graham County stand to lose more than $750,000 in state funding that pays for buses and textbooks. 

 

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

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.

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.

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