Legislative Newsletter: May 13, 2010

Arizona Education Network Newsletter Countdown to Proposition 100, Let's Get the Vote Out! May 13, 2010

Let's Get the Vote Out for Proposition 100! We've been asked by many education supporters what they can do in the final days before the May 18 election to help get the word out. Here are a few ideas, as well as contact information for organized efforts in the Tucson area: 1. HOLD SIGNS ON ELECTION DAY - Tuesday, May 18 Hold "VOTE YES TODAY ON PROPOSITION 100" signs outside of your school at drop-off and at pick-up. Remember to stand off of your school grounds. If you plan on holding a sign at your school, please sign up here with your name, the school you plan to cover and whether you will at drop-off, pick-up or both. 2. SEND EMAIL AND FACEBOOK MESSAGES to your family and friends encouraging them to vote Yes on Proposition 100. For a sample email letter, click here for a message to send your friends. 3. MAKE PHONE CALLS TO VOTERS. If you live in the Tucson area and are interested placing calls to potential voters, contact Marisela de Solis Kester with the Proposition 100 campaign in Tucson at phxmom05@gmail.com. There will be opportunities to make phone calls in the evenings and during this upcoming weekend. 4. PAINT YOUR CAR. Paint your windows with the message "Vote Yes on 100". You can buy window chalk at Michael's, ACE Hardware or your local 99-Cent store.  Have a window painting party at your next baseball game or swim practice. 5. HELP HAND OUT FLYERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATION CEREMONIES. The Arizona Student Association is looking for volunteers to help hand out Proposition 100 materials this  Saturday from  7 a.m. to 11 a.m.  If you are interested, contact David Martinez at dm3@azstudents.org.  Volunteers will meet at 7 a.m. in the ASUA offices on the third floor of the Student Union. For more information and/or ideas, visit AEN's Prop. 100 - Vote Yes Tool Kit.

As the May 18 Vote Approaches You are Making a Difference The Proposition 100 vote is less than a week away. The future of our local schools and universities hangs on the outcome of the vote on Tuesday, May 18. This has the potential to be a very close election. Every vote counts! And no matter the result, we can celebrate because thousands have found their voice once again. And it is because of you. Because of you, thousands of voters were registered in communities around Arizona. Because of you, hundreds of registered voters signed up for the permanent early voter list and will now receive their ballots at home, making voting more likely. Because of you, Arizonans are chipping away at the partisan albatross that has constrained a true, open, and honest dialogue about the state of public education. Because of you, the sleeping giant is awakening. And because of you, Arizona's students have a chance. Proposition 100 is just the beginning, the first miles in a marathon to restore a basic and solid footing for our children's future. We will get there, because of you! One example of education supporters at work. 100 STANDS for education on Saturday, May 8, 2010.

Election Day: What You Need to Know Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 18. Polling places will be limited since this is a special election. You may not be voting at your regular polling place. You also can vote early at several early voting locations. To find an early-voting location in your county or your polling place for the May 18 election, click here. If you received a ballot by mail, please remember to vote YES and send it back. You can also take your early ballot to any polling place on Election Day.

Your Proposition 100 Questions Answered - Recap Here are the top questions we've been hearing regarding Proposition 100 and the answers that we have published. If you hear any of these questions raised, please provide answers so potential voters will have a better understanding of Proposition 100. Is it true that the one-cent temporary sales tax will cost the average Arizona family $400 a year?An Arizona family of four would have to spend $40,000 dollars a year on sales-taxable items for that to be the case.  According to the US Census American Community Survey of State Median Income by Family Size in the past twelve months (2008 inflation adjusted dollars) the median income of a four-person Arizona family was $69,452.  Considering that many expenses such as mortgages and services are exempt from sales tax, it is highly unlikely that the average Arizona family would pay anywhere near $400 more in sales taxes. Won't the money raised by Proposition 100 just be shifted to pay for corporate tax cuts? Money raised by the one-cent sales tax increase is mandated to go to education, health and human services and public safety.  While a corporate tax cut was discussed, no corporate tax cut bill emerged this legislative session. Why are some people saying Proposition 100 is really an 18% increase? The 18% refers to the increase in the current tax rate of 5.6% to the proposed rate of 6.6% (if Proposition 100 passes).  That is a simple mathematical difference of  17.85%. By calling Proposition 100 an 18% increase; opponents have created the misperception that the increase is really 18 cents on the dollar.  Proposition 100 is a one-percent sales tax increase or one-cent on each dollar spent. ONE PENNY! If you purchase a DVD player for one hundred dollars you would pay an additional one dollar, not an additional eighteen dollars. Related Articles: Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase - Your Questions Answered (Updated 4/24/2010) Op Ed: Vote Yes on Prop. 100, the One-Cent-Sales-Tax Increase

Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

_________________________ May 18, 2010 Special Election for Prop. 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Prop. 100 Facts     Without the temporary sales tax, more than $420 million in K-12 funding will be cut.     Prop. 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety.     The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Prop. 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Speaks Out on the State of Education in Arizona

"Is the state proud to that it's 49th in investment in education?" Secretary Duncan asked. "I don't know that that's something I'd be proud of.... If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.... We have to educate our way to a better economy." To view the entire interview, click here.

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Contact Arizona's U.S. Congressional Delegation and Urge them to Sponsor and Support the Keep Our Educators Working Act (S. 3206) The Education Commission of the States estimates that this federal legislation to save our schools could bring $406 million to Arizona K-12 and higher education.  For details click here.

________________________ Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote     Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18.     Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24.     Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

Check us out at:     www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com     Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet     Join us on Facebook! Interested in having the Arizona Education Network speak at your school or community group event? Email us at outreach@arizonaeducationnetwork.com for information and dates. The Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides factual information and advocates for public education.

“When Adults Fight, Children Lose.” ~ U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Speaks Out on the State of Education Funding in Arizona

Kim Covington with Channel 12 KPNX in Phoenix sat down for an exclusive interview with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Washington, D.C. to discuss the state of Arizona’s investment in public education and the second round Race to the Top application.

Duncan called on Arizona’s lawmakers, teacher’s union, and business leaders to work together on education funding instead of politicizing the issue.

Arizona currently ranks 49th in per pupil spending. Covington reports that in order for the state to catch up to the national average, Arizona would have to increase spending by 44%, or $2.7 billion.

With over $270 million in recent cuts to public education, the largest cut in the nation, Arizona currently has only three potential options to aid education funding; Proposition 100, the temporary one percent sales tax increase, the “Keep our Educators Working Act”, a U.S. Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, and the Race to the Top round two competitive grant.

“Is the state proud to that it’s 49th in investment in education?” Secretary Duncan asked. “I don’t know that that’s something I’d be proud of…. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance…. We have to educate our way to a better economy.”

Watch the interview below.

Legislative Newsletter May 4, 2010

Arizona Education Network Newsletter Legislature Completes Session, Your Prop. 100 Questions Answered, Lemonade & More! Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Arizona Legislature Completes Session The Legislature completed its session late in the evening of April 29. First the good news. Several attempts to undo voter-protected programs failed. The first, SCR 1033, would have allowed the Legislature to divert funds from voter-approved programs and deposit them into the general fund. The second, HCR 2041, would have required every ballot measure (except Indian Gaming) to repeal after eight years. If the bills had passed, they would have undone Prop. 301, which helps fund teacher pay and other education programs. But not all voter-approved mandates emerged unscathed this year. On November 2, voters will be asked to rescind First Things First, a program that provides infants and toddlers with a solid foundation to succeed in school. In 2006, voters passed First Things First, approving a tobacco tax to pay for early childhood programs such as quality childcare, preventative healthcare and parenting classes. In March, the Legislature mustered the votes to pass HCR 2001, which would transfer the program's $325 million into the general fund for other uses. The Legislature rejected offers by early childhood advocates to loan the state money from the fund. To see how your legislators voted on HCR 2001, visit AEN's seventh special session summary. In the last push to the finish line, the Legislature passed several bills related to education funding and reform. AEN is reviewing those bills for an update in a later post.

Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

Your Prop. 100 Questions Answered As we head into the home stretch for the Prop. 100 vote (the May 18 vote is only two weeks away) we want to keep you up to date. Last week, we published a list of commonly heard concerns about Prop. 100, with research-based responses. Here is a new concern and a clarification. Is it true that the one-cent temporary sales tax will cost the average Arizona family $400 a year? An Arizona family of four would have to spend $40,000 dollars a year on sales-taxable items for that to be the case. According to the US Census American Community Survey of State Median Income by Family Size in the past twelve months (2008 inflation adjusted dollars) the median income of a four-person Arizona family was $69,452. Considering that many expenses such as mortgages and services are exempt from sales tax, it is highly unlikely that the average Arizona family would pay anywhere near $400 more in sales taxes. Based on input from a reader, we are clarifying the answer to the following objection to Prop. 100 published last week. Why are some people saying Prop. 100 is really an 18% increase? The 18% refers to the increase in the current tax rate of 5.6% to the proposed rate of 6.6% (if Prop. 100 passes). That is a simple mathematical difference of 17.85%. By calling Prop. 100 an 18% increase, opponents have created the misperception that the increase is really 18 cents on the dollar. Prop. 100 is a one-percent sales tax increase or one-cent on each dollar spent-ONE PENNY! If you purchase a DVD player for one hundred dollars you would pay an additional one dollar, not an additional eighteen dollars. Related Articles: Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase - Your Questions Answered (Updated 4/24/2010) Op Ed: Vote Yes on Prop. 100, the One-Cent-Sales-Tax Increase

100 Stands for Education: Turning Lemons into Lemonade A Tucson family came up with a fun and family-friendly way to turn "lemons into lemonade" to raise statewide awareness of the importance of K-12 education and promote Prop. 100. Join other Arizonans this Saturday, May 8, in setting up a Prop. 100 lemonade stand as part of "100 Stands for Education." Participants will hand out information about Prop. 100 and donate all proceeds to the public school of their choice. To register your lemonade stand and sign-up to receive Prop. 100 yard signs, stickers and materials to hand out go to http://www.100StandsForEducation.org/make-your-stand. Organizers are taking orders for T-shirts. Cost is $6 per shirt, with adult and child sizes available.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Debate The race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction is beginning to heat up. The person elected to replace the current superintendent, Tom Horne, will play a major role in critical decisions affecting public school funding and reform. A series of debates among the candidates will be held around the state. An upcoming debate, sponsored by the Arizona School Board Association, will take place Thursday, May 13, 2010 in Sedona at the West Sedona School, 570 Posse Grounds Road. A meet and greet reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the debate at 7 p.m. Candidates for Superintendent who will be participating in the debate: Margaret Dugan, www.margaretdugan.com Penny Kotterman, www.pennykotterman.com John Huppenthal, www.johnhuppenthal.com Jason Williams, www.williamsforarizona.com Dugan and Huppenthal, both Republicans, will run against each other in the August 24 primary. Kotterman and Williams will compete in the Democratic primary. Related Articles: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office

AEN Fast Fact: I hear that the administrative costs for public school districts are exorbitantly high. Is this true? The 2009 Auditor General's Report on Classroom Spending released this March shows the average school district administrative cost is about 9 percent of each district's total budget. That's 1.8 percent BELOW the national average of 10.8 percent! For more information, check out Arizona Auditor General Report on Classroom Spending 2009: A Closer Look.

Early Voting Has Started Early voting for Prop. 100 is underway. If you received a ballot by mail, please remember to vote YES and send it back. You can also take your early ballot to any polling place on Election Day. You can request an early ballot be sent to your home until May 7. To find out how to request an early ballot, click here. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 18. Polling places will be limited since this is a special election. You may not be voting at your regular polling place. You also can vote early at several early voting locations. To find an early-voting location in your county or your polling place for the May 18 election, click here.

_________________________ It's National Teachers Appreciation Week! Check in with your school's parent organization for ideas and ways you and your child can get involved this week in showing support and appreciation for all our teachers do for our students.

_________________________ Keep Kids First and the Sahuarita Education Foundation Invite You to Show Your Support for Education "Education is NOT Just a Walk in the Park" A community event and walk Thursday, May 6, 4 - 6 p.m. Rancho Sahuarita South Lawn Contact Krojahn1@cox.net for more information.

________________________ Tucson Values Teachers Presents: "Toast to Tucson's Teachers" A family-friendly community block party toasting Tucson's K-12 teachers. Friday, May 7, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Downtown Tucson, on Toole Avenue between Maynard's and Hotel Congress The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will perform a free "Celebrate the Future" concert at the Concert Hall at 8 p.m. For more information and a free parking pass for teachers, click here.

_________________________   May 18, 2010 Special Election for Prop. 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Prop. 100 Facts Without the temporary sales tax, more than $420 million in K-12 funding will be cut. Prop. 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety. The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Prop. 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Last Day to Request an Early Ballot is May 7, 2010 Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Contact Arizona's U.S. Congressional Delegation and Urge them to Sponsor and Support the Keep Our Educators Working Act (S. 3206) The Education Commission of the States estimates that this federal legislation to save our schools could bring $406 million to Arizona K-12 and higher education. For details click here.

________________________ Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18. Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24. Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

Legislative Newsletter: April 27, 2010

Arizona Education Network Newsletter Proposition 100 Under Attack: Check Out the Facts Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Proposition 100 Under Attack: Check Out the Facts With the start of early voting on April 22, opponents of Proposition 100 - the temporary one-percent sales tax increase - have stepped up their attacks. The Arizona Education Network supports Proposition 100 not because we think it is the answer to the budget issues affecting our state, but because it is a bridge that buys us time to allow the Arizona economy to rebound and to begin the reform of the state's tax structure. Some argue that the defeat of Proposition 100 would force the Arizona legislature to "do their job" and find a better way to close our budget deficit. We have been assured by those in the majority party that the defeat of Proposition 100, which dedicates two-thirds of revenues to education, would be viewed as a vote against education funding and would encourage further cuts to a system that already ranks last in the nation in per-child funding. When you hear the following anti-Prop 100 arguments, we want you to be armed with the facts. So let's look at the arguments against Proposition 100 and see how they stack up. It's really an 18% increase in sales tax. This is not only a scare tactic - it's bad math. Proposition 100 is a one-percent sales tax increase or one-cent on each dollar spent - ONE PENNY! If you purchase a DVD player for $100 you would pay an additional $1 not an additional $18. Arizonans can't afford to pay any more taxes. If Proposition 100 does not pass, Arizonans could pay more in permanent property taxes. Why is that? The Department of Corrections will shift prisoners to county jails which do not have the capacity right now to house them. Counties will have to increase property taxes in order to fund new jail cell construction. So what this really boils down to is: Do you want to pay a temporary, three-year tax to support school children, public safety and health and human services or a permanent property tax to build more jail cells? The Legislature will just choose to extend the sales tax. No tax is temporary. If voters pass Proposition 100, it will automatically repeal in three years. This language will be written into the state Constitution if it passes. It would take a two-thirds majority for legislators to extend the sales tax. The fact that Arizona has cut taxes in sixteen of the past eighteen years and the fact that legislators could not muster the two-thirds majority to increase the sales tax themselves, argue strongly against the possibility that legislators would have the votes or the inclination to reinstate this tax. Sales taxes are regressive. Rejecting the sales tax would put other options back on the table. We agree that sales taxes are regressive. However at the moment a sales tax increase is the only revenue option we've been given. Remember that it takes a two-thirds super-majority to raise revenue in Arizona. Our legislators couldn't even pass the sales tax increase themselves. They could barely agree to refer it to the voters. It would be unrealistic to believe that the current legislature would somehow see the fiscally responsible "light" and find a fairer way to raise revenue if Proposition 100 were defeated. What Proposition 100 does is buy us time to come up with more permanent solutions. Also, remember, all these legislators are up for election in the August 24, 2010 primary and November 2, 2010 general election. The amount from the sales tax apportioned to primary and secondary education is $600 million but there is only $428 million in conditional cuts to K-12 education in the FY2011 budget if Proposition 100 is defeated. This is not some kind of bait-and-switch tactic as suggested by opponents of Proposition 100. It is simply the result of the choices made from where to cut in the conditional budget - the budget that was prepared and passed in case Proposition 100 fails on May 18. The initial estimate in cuts to K-12 was closer to $600 million. However when the state's conditional budget was drafted there was such an outcry from constituents and stakeholders over the cuts to K-12 that the Legislature responded by lessening the cuts to K-12. Instead they apportioned an additional cut of $107 million to universities, $15 million to community colleges and the balance of $50 million to health and human services. Keep in mind that the contingent budget that would be put in place if Proposition 100 fails includes cuts so drastic that the state would lose millions of dollars in federal matching funds. This loss of federal funds would far outweigh the savings to the state from the cuts. If Proposition 100 fails, the legislature will likely return to address these issues regardless of the conditional budget. If Proposition 100 is approved the beneficiaries will be education, public safety and health and human services. Money raised by Proposition 100 will be shifted to pay for corporate tax cuts. Money raised by the one-cent sales tax increase is mandated to go to education, health and human services and public safety. While a corporate tax cut is being discussed, the latest information we have is that it has been significantly reduced in scope and the governor is threatening to veto the corporate tax cut if it overlaps with the period of the sales tax increase (i.e. it cannot begin until after May 31, 2013). Proposition 100 is the bridge we need to give our state the opportunity to recover economically and formulate a long term plan to reform our tax structure. The passage of the temporary one-percent sales tax is vital to keep our public education, health and human services and public safety from being decimated. It is vital that we generate this revenue during these dire economic times. We urge you to VOTE YES for the economic future of Arizona.

Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

_________________________ "The Current Budget Crisis in Education and How it will Impact Your Family" Sponsored by the Arizona Education Network and the Marana Foundation for Educational Excellence with keynote speaker Dr. Doug Wilson, Superintendent of Marana Unified School District Wednesday, April 28, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Mountain View High School Auditorium 3901 West Linda Vista Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85742 Map here. _________________________

_________________________ May 18, 2010 Special Election for Proposition 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Proposition 100 Facts Without the temporary sales tax, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut. This could mean 1.5 to 2 out of every 10 teacher positions may be eliminated. Proposition 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety. The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Last Day to Request an Early Ballot is May 7, 2010 Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Early Voting Has Started Early voting for Proposition 100 began on April 22, 2010. If you received a ballot by mail, please remember to vote YES and send it back. You can request an early ballot to be sent to your home until May 7, 2010. To find out how to request an early ballot, click here. You can vote at your polling place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Because this is a special election, polling locations will be limited, and you may not be voting at your usual location. To contact your county election board to find your polling location for the May 18, 2010 Proposition 100 election, click here.

Community Leaders Discuss Proposition 100 On Thursday, April 22, 2010 the Arizona Education Network sponsored a community-wide forum on Proposition 100. Seven distinguished panelists from vital sectors in Pima County spoke of the fiscal, human and educational impact of Proposition 100 at the community level in Southern Arizona. The panelists included: Dr. Nic Clement, Flowing Wells Superintendent, Co-Chair of the Tucson School Superintendents' Collaborative Rainer W.G. Gruessner, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Surgery, University of Arizona Chuck Huckelberry, Pima County Administrator Penelope Jacks,Children's Action Alliance, Southern Arizona Director Sue Krahe, Our Family Services Director Stephen MacCarthy, University of Arizona, Vice President for External Relations Ron Shoopman, President of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council . Each of the panelists' presentations echoed a similar theme: Proposition 100 is a temporary band-aid that will protect public education, public safety, and health and human services - programs that are vital to Arizona's economic future. To read a summary and/or watch the forum, click here.

Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2nd. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

PS. Check us out at: www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet Join us on Facebook! The Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides factual information and advocates for public education.