Ann-Eve Pedersen on renewing the one cent sales tax

by David Safier

Good interview with Ann-Eve Pedersen in the Republic Saturday on the one cent sales tax initiative. Before the excerpts, I want to restate what isn't well understood about the initiative. The sales tax money can't simply be folded into the general fund, letting the lege either keep education funding where it is or lowering it. The initiative mandates the legislature fund schools at the 2011-2012 levels or higher. The funds from the renewed sales tax go on top of that. If When this passes, funding will go up significantly for students in district and charter schools.

Some excerpts:

How would you describe the Quality Education and Jobs initiative in a nutshell?
It will provide permanent, dedicated funding for education that the Legislature can't cut. It will invest in our students, teachers and schools as they implement rigorous performance and accountability requirements. And it will provide scholarships for university and community-college students. Go to qualityeducationandjobs.com for details.

[snip]

Legislators cut more than $1 billion from K-12 education over the past four years, hurting our economy and job creation in the process. Voters don't trust the Legislature to invest in education as the economy improves, with good reason. Legislators this year rebuffed the governor's request for a modest increase in education funding.

Why does the initiative specify where all the revenue would go, rather than allowing flexibility when times are tight?
Voters don't trust the Legislature. That's why the initiative directs resources to their two top priorities — education and the economy — rather than leaving discretion to politicians and special-interest lobbyists. A portion of the funds will help rebuild the state's transportation infrastructure, another key element to Arizona's economic health that suffered repeated legislative funding raids.

What drove you personally to become involved in this issue?
As an Arizona native and the mother of an 11-year-old son, I'm concerned about the future of our children and the future of our state. The Quality Education and Jobs initiative is a once-in-a-generation game-changer for Arizona, one that will benefit all Arizonans.

Supress your fatalistic, it-won't-do-any-good instincts and support this initiative. It's an important move in the right direction.