by David Safier
Steve Gall once again assembled a group of sponsors for a bill to create daily, organized physical activity in Arizona schools, and once again, it went down, this time without even getting a hearing. He's especially upset with the Arizona School Board Association that expressed objections to the bill but didn't respond to requests from Steve Gall, Democratic Senator Steve Farley or Republican Senator Kelli Ward to discuss their objections.
From Steve:
Democratic Senator Steve Farley, Republican Senator Kelli Ward, who is a physician, and I tried to get SB 1114, K-5 daily organized physical activity passed through the Senate. Unfortunately, it did not even get a hearing. One of the objections was from the Arizona School Board Association located in Phoenix. So Senator Ward planned a stakeholder meeting with them last Thursday to discuss our reasons for supporting this simple and non-invasive bill. They not only did not show up to the meeting. They did not even respond to Senator Farley's phone calls or e-mails. I find this terribly disappointing and unprofessional. I have tried several times to get in touch with Janice Palmer who is the legislative liason for the ASBA but no reponse. This organization represents all the school districts in Arizona. How can they be so irresponsible??
When you look at a completely reasonable and understandable bill like this that doesn’t even get a hearing, and then look at the bills that not only get hearings, but also actually get VOTES (only to be ultimately, after many taxpayer dollars involved, i imagine, declared unconstitutional) its enough to make you gag. Folks, we REALLY have to occupy the statehouse and replace some of those folks!
Good luck!
Not yet, David. If we can convince them to support this, it might go to Senator Yee, who is the chairman of the Senate Education Committee and she can put pressure on the Senate President and Rules Committee Chairman Senator Biggs. I’m not giving up yet!
What good will a meeting do, Steve? Isn’t this a done deal?
We finally got in touch with Janice Palmer of the ASBA! Another stakeholder meeting is planned for Monday, Feb. 25, 1:00 at Senator Farley’s office. I will be there!