Chanting, "No More Cuts, No More Cuts,"
parents, students, teachers, and taxpayers marched in front of the Capitol
Thursday afternoon, sending a message to Governor Ducey and state legislators
that this new budget deal is bad for Arizona. ASU students marched from the
downtown campus to the Capitol, school groups from Chandler, Gilbert, and
Glendale joined the demonstration, and a number of senators and representatives
left their offices to visit with protest participants. 
Higley School District parent Meredith Simpson's four daughters walked with their high school graduation years marked on gold balloons: 2019, 2022, 2026 and 2030. Three Phoenix Union sophomores spoke about having too many substitute teachers, losing the arts in their schools, and worrying that they won't be prepared for the colleges they hope to attend. A Madison School District teacher said she could be so much more effective if she just had 28 or 30 students in each of her classes. ASU students told everyone who would listen that they couldn't afford any additional tuition hikes and didn't want to take out any more loans.
The signs, balloons and strollers were a festive sight, but make no mistake; this is a serious fight over Arizona's future. At a time when two-thirds of all jobs require post-secondary schooling, and our state needs to invest in education, this budget's numbers don't add up.
Governor Ducey's proposed budget was bad; this
budget, worked out behind closed doors and passed by the House and Senate
yesterday, is worse. Because the compromise excludes new revenue sources, the
budget now increases the cuts to our universities from $75 million to $99
million and eliminates all state funding for community colleges in Pima and
Maricopa Counties. And don't be fooled; there are no new funds for K-12,
just funds for student population growth and a miserly offer of a fraction of
the $330 million court-ordered inflation funds due our schools.
The Governor defends the proposed budget, telling us to "tighten our belts," saying "it's irresponsible to spend money we don't have." But all along, he's been supporting tax-giveaways to corporations that amount to $675 million over the next three years. Additionally, he supports sales tax loopholes and state income tax write-offs that could bring in millions more.
If tax cuts worked, our economy would be rebounding more quickly from the recession. We've been cutting taxes in Arizona for ten years yet our unemployment is a full percentage point above the national rate and our median income level is stagnant. Former Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives and current Board of Regent Chair Mark Killian addressed the House Appropriations Committee two weeks ago and said, "Our policies have been wrong."
I do not believe that Arizonans support these
cuts to education. The move to adopt this budget quickly did not give the public
an opportunity to understand the details and did not give this important process
the transparency it deserves. My colleagues and I know that a mandate to public
schools to cut "non-classroom" expenses by 5 percent is just a further
elimination of essential educational services that support the learning process
in our schools. And the continued cuts to higher education have resulted in
higher fees and tuition in the past that are just a de facto tax increase on our
middle class families. What happened at the Capitol last Thursday was important. Education supporters raised their voices on behalf of our children and their schools. Let's hope our Governor was listening. We have had a setback, and I am disappointed, as I know you are. But our work goes on. Contact the Governor now and tell him to veto this budget. Our kids and our state deserve better.
Thank you.
Dr. Eric Meyer
House Minority Leader
American Freedom by Barbara Has NOT received any compensation to post this information,it is a courtesy post
