Arizona Center for Economic Progress Head David Lujan Assumes the Leadership of the Children’s Action Alliance

The Children’s Action Alliance (CAA,) an organization that specializes in advancing policy issues that would benefit Arizona children and families like education, health care, child safety, and childcare has a new leader.

It is former Arizona Democratic Legislative Leader and current Center for Economic Progress head David Lujan.

Mr. Lujan brings a vast amount of practical government and executive leadership experience to the 32-year-old Arizona organization.

Mr. Lujan graciously took the time to discuss his new position.

The questions and his responses are below.

1) Please tell the reader at least two reasons you took on the position to head the Children’s Action Alliance.

• “I have been with the organization the last five years and I feel we have the opportunity to make a difference for Arizona children and families and I look forward to working to help them in this new position.”
• “In many ways, I feel my role at CAA has been more impactful than when I was in the legislature.”

2) Please tell the reader at least two ways this new position will be different from your previous one as head of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress.

 NOTE: Mr. Lujan is currently occupying both positions right now.

• “This position is more focused on improving the lives of Arizona children and families.”
• “CAA is a bigger organization with more issue areas to focus on.”

3) What are your two immediate goals for shaping the CAA as its new head?

• “Finishing out the legislative session to make sure the CAA priorities are addressed.”
• “Bring people from across Arizona to make sure their voices are heard. Furthermore, to ensure that stimulus money is spent and targeted toward vital Arizona children and family needs. $12 billion in stimulus aid is a monumental amount and we need to hold people to account to ensure that the money is spent in the right areas.”

4) What are two long-term goals you have for shaping the CAA?

• “Helping Arizona’s children and families will always be the long-term goal of the CAA.”
• “In order to remain an organization that will be respected in the State Capitol and Washington DC, we need to adapt our methods to the changing times and doing the things that will continue to make a difference. We need to be much more community-centered in the policies. We have hired more community outreach staff and extending outreach to all of Arizona and reaching out to all parts of the state. We have expanded the Tucson/Southern Arizona operations from one part-time position to two full-time ones and are in the process of hiring a Tribal Policy fellow.”

5) With regards to the Arizona State Legislature, what are at least three bills the CAA is lobbying for passage before the House and Senate adjourn? What are the names of at least two pieces of legislation that have passed that you and the CAA are pleased with?

• “Expand eligibility for KidsCare in the state’s budget. Arizona ranks 48^th in the country in this regard and that is unacceptable.”
• “HB2015: Lorenzo Sierra’s education bill that would provide $45 million for preschool early childhood grants.”

 “We are happy with the SB1462 that allocates $92 million for childcare subsidies that passed earlier this year. Another passed bill, SB1301, creates a sixth area health education center in Arizona that focuses on tribal health services to help provide training for medical doctors in tribal areas.”

6) With regards to the Arizona State Legislature, what are at least three bills the CAA is lobbying for the legislators to reject before they adjourn? What are the names of at least two pieces of bad legislation that have passed that you and the CAA are not pleased with?

 “SB1783 that would cut Prop 208 funding in half or putting it into the budget. We are opposing any efforts to reduce Proposition 208 revenue.”

 “We are also against efforts to pass online preschool bills.”

 “Any tax cut bills we are opposed to especially during a pandemic that calls for greater community investing at this time. That includes the proposals for a flat tax that 80 percent of the benefits will go toward the top 20 percent.”

 “Finally, measures that counter Democracy, voting rights, or the ballot initiative we feel is counterproductive and against Arizona children’s and family’s interests.” 

7) Is there anything not mentioned in the previous six questions that you would like the reader to know? Please explain. 

“It is a real honor to be able to lead the Children’s Action Alliance and advocate on behalf of policies at the state and federal level for children and families. If we can make a meaningful difference in that regard that would shape policy for decades is really exciting.”

 Please click here for more information on the Children’s Action Alliance and here for the Arizona Center for Economic Progress.