As teachers, students, and parents head back to school, the governor and Republican legislative leadership are walking away from bipartisan budget discussions and attempting to pass a partisan budget that includes massive cuts to public education and provides huge tax breaks for the wealthiest Arizonans and largest corporations. Tomorrow they will attempt to reverse the positive measures passed by a bipartisan unanimous vote on July 6, the first day of the special session.
The details of a Republican budget proposal that have leaked out are baffling in light of Arizonans strong desire to avoid massive cuts to public education and the Governor's recent statements on the budget crisis.
In poll after poll, Arizonans have expressed opposition to reductions in public education funding and a willingness to increase taxes if necessary to avoid such cuts. On July 1 Governor Brewer vetoed the budget sent to her by the legislature because it included devastating cuts to education and other vital services and left the state's long term finances in disarray. On July 9, when she signed a temporary budget solution that restored public education funding, she complimented the legislature on working through a bipartisan process to restore education cuts and vital services.
Now it appears the Republican legislative leadership is attempting to convince the governor that she was wrong and a partisan budget that will leave the state short of revenue and makes drastic cuts to public education deserves her support.
According to a summary that has been leaked the "Legislative Majority Budget Proposal" includes:
A three year state budget spending freeze at budget levels enacted in June of 2008.
FY2010 budget that includes all the public education funding cuts vetoed by the governor on July 1.
Punitive measures that strip basic professional rights away from teachers.
Suspension of the voter protection act (Proposition 105 protections) through a ballot measure allowing the legislature to ignore voter mandated Proposition 301 funding levels for public schools.
A watered down temporary sales tax increase through a ballot referral that will collect much less revenue than needed to balance the budget without forcing additional cuts to education and vital services in future years.
A permanent personal and corporate income tax reduction that will drain at least $400 million dollars in revenue from the state beginning in FY2011. This tax cut will provide much larger tax cuts to upper income earners and large corporations than middle class families, working families, and small businesses.
The Legislative Majority Budget Proposal could have a damaging impact on schools, students and teachers. Arizonans need to send the governor and legislators a message today!
The republicans have spoken loud and clear to Arizonans. We get it. We get whose side you're on. We won't quit fighting for our teachers and schools. Just be ready for that fight.