Arizona budget woes make Huffington Post
January 27, 2009
by David Safier Beginning with the headline, Napolitano Departs, AZ GOP Cannibalizes Education to Meet Budget Shortfall, Dawn Teo tells the saga of the Arizona budget on HuffPo in detail, all the way to Paul Eckerstrom's becoming Chair of the AZ Dem Party. She ends the story with this quote from Eckerstrom's speech: As Democrats,
Let’s get real about the Arizona budget crisis
January 27, 2009
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: In the 1990s, Arizona enacted a series of income tax cuts and other tax cuts during the Fife Symington administration. State tax revenues did not appreciably decline during this period due to our policy of rapid population growth in Arizona, not the myth that tax cuts lead to growth in tax revenues.
Republicans balking on AZ budget?
January 27, 2009
by David Safier All is not well in Conservative Land. It seems that some Republican legislators are unhappy with the options they've been handed by Russell and Cavanagh. "Right now I think there's more danger of the situation locking up and us not getting a budget out than vice versa," said Sen. John Huppenthal, R-Chandler.
University students to protest at Capitol Wednesday
January 26, 2009
by David Safier A protest organized by university students is scheduled for noon Wednesday at the Capitol. NAU student government President Brad Busse stated that students want to remind legislatures of campaign promises to support education. I'm sure they won't be asking for your student card if you decide to attend.
Dems’ options for Arizona budget
January 26, 2009
by David Safier Here's the Democratic Caucus News Release about their budget options. A spreadsheet is attached to the news release, but I haven't had a chance to look at it. Note: I was sent corrected versions of the table and spreadsheet I posted earlier today. Here is the corrected table comparing the Republican and Democratic options and
Talk of raising taxes in the air
January 26, 2009
by David Safier (TASL) Has the time come when Arizonans are willing to consider increasing taxes rather than gutting education? Apparently, recent polling indicates that, when people are asked if they would pay more taxes to improve education, a majority says Yes. (No, I don't have the data or a link. So accept or discount
Suspend education tax credits
January 26, 2009
by David Safier You want to add revenue to the state coffers to be used to lessen education cuts? Get rid of the public and private school tax credits, education groups say. It makes sense. The total tax credits last year added up to $95 million. I don't have the figures handy, but I think
Fool’s Gold: Cut teachers, improve schools
January 26, 2009
by David Safier Great idea from the Goldwater Institute: cut teachers — only the bad ones — and add their students to the good teachers' classes. No, I'm not kidding. From Fool's Gold's Matthew Ladner: Research shows, however, that students would be much better off if schools did let their most ineffective teachers go, and redistributed the
