July 30, 8:30 p.m.

Appropriations Chair Predicts Future Special Session with Deeper Cuts to Education Even if Sales Tax Passes

By appointing a new committee member to get a quorum and making a deal with a Maricopa County Republican Senator to cut funds for the Rio Verde Project in Tucson, the Republican Leadership has found a way to put together enough votes get the budget bills out of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In the process, Senate Appropriations Chair Russell Pearce explained that any revenue from a temporary sales tax would be used to help pay down Arizona's debt rather than restore any education budget cuts. The Governor says she wants to use any revenue that will be generated from her temporary sales tax referral to restore public education cuts that are included in this budget package. It is clear the language in the bill will allow the legislature to decide if they want to restore education cuts with the sales tax revenue or use it for other purposes. Based on testimony of Senate Appropriations Chair Pearce, even with the passage of the sales tax he plans on another special session with further cuts to public education and no restoration of education cuts.

This bill is becoming more flawed and harmful to Arizona and its economy in order to gain the support of extreme right wing Senators like Jack Harper of Surprise, Arizona. Harper opposed the budget because it included a sales tax increase referral. But he apparently agreed to support the budget package if a provision to cut off sales tax funding revenue to Pima County's most important economic development project was added.

The entire package of bills passed the Appropriations Committee on a party line vote.

AEA Vice President Andrew Morrill and AEA Republican Caucus Chair Chris Ackerley (Amphitheater High School Teacher) both testified to the damage that this budget will do to our schools, the damage it will do to our economy, and its irresponsible fiscal polices.

For a summary of the budget package and the harm this budget will do if passed, view AEA's website.

With the exception of the amendments passed in Senate Appropriations today, the budget has passed the Senate and House Appropriations Committees in identical form. If the House and Senate have enough Republican members to provide a majority vote on the floor (16 in the Senate and 31 in the House), the budget will proceed to the Rules Committee, Caucus Meetings, and the floor for a vote tonight.

If not, the process will stall.

Do they have the votes? Stay tuned and take action to stop this budget.

Take Action:
Call your legislators and the governor
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Join other March4Schools activists at the capitol www.march4schools.com
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