Budget Wins for Arizonans
June 16, 2024
Hi Friend,
Welcome to Last Week at the Legislature, my weekly report to you on what happened last week in your State House and how I'm representing our community. It is truly an honor to serve you.
The session is done. We finally passed a budget Saturday night after some 14-hour days, and concluded the session at 9:54 pm.
I did vote YES on the budget because it was the best we were going to be able to get this year. But I share many of my colleagues’ deep disappointment in many aspects of it.
Frankly, at the root of the problem is the one-seat Republican majority's fiscal irresponsibility over the past decade. They have dug our state into a $1.8 Billion deficit by forcing through
the Gov Ducey flat tax that took full effect this year. It's the biggest single contributor to our deficit so that the wealthiest Arizonans can have $350,000 in tax cuts a year, and the lowest earners receive $4 a year in savings.
the fraud, waste, and abuse in the unaccountable ESA voucher program that will cost taxpayers almost $1 Billion this year alone, and
the over $1 Billion in Republican pork projects like the Prescott rodeo in last year's budget
These policies have put our children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable among us at risk.
Thanks to Governor Hobbs and legislative Democrats, we managed to provide some funding to essential services, but even so, I know it will be inadequate to meet the need.
We COULD have reduced the deficit by half by placing accountability and transparency for parents and taxpayers on the Republican's universal ESA voucher pet project, but their extremist leaders refused to budge.
So their agenda to privatize education continues to rob from the middle class and poor and give to the rich. While I support ESA vouchers for their original intent to address the needs of students with disabilities that the legislature does not adequately fund public schools to address, the vast majority of universal ESA vouchers now provide a discount coupon for those already able to pay for their children's private school tuition while leaving the 90% of Arizona children whose parents choose our vital public schools with funding that ranks 49th in the nation.
Further, while we were able to save our long-fought gains for additional funds for public schools in FY25, it enrages me that they will take a significant cut next year unless we can successfully negotiate from scratch those much-needed funds in FY26 and beyond.
Budgets are moral documents that reveal our values. Republicans also prioritized things like stripping community colleges and universities of funding (at a time when we need a strong educated workforce more than ever - especially in the fields of IT and healthcare), raises for Supreme Court justices (including my opponent's husband) and providing millions to increase the prizes for horse racing in Arizona. Democrats prioritized public education, affordable housing, workforce development, and safe communities.
Essentially, with their one-seat majority, Republicans basically balanced the budget on the backs of our children, elderly, and most vulnerable citizens. We fought as hard as we could, but until we have the votes, Arizona’s legislative Republicans will continue to bankrupt us both morally and economically.
Judy
Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2
jschwiebert@azleg.gov, JudySchwiebert.com, 602-935-0468
Democrat Budget Wins for Arizonans
Ultimately, I voted YES on this flawed budget
I was especially focused on ensuring funds for K-12 education, community colleges as our pipeline to the workforce, affordable housing, healthcare, resources for homebound seniors and people with disabilities, safe neighborhoods, and the Arizona Arts Commission.
While the amounts may be inadequate, without advocacy from Governor Hobbs and legislative Democrats these vital programs would have received no state resources. Here are some of our wins.
Education
Continuing long-overdue District Additional Assistance for FY25
Opportunity weight for students living in poverty to receive after-school tutoring and other reading and math assistance for FY25
Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) extension to allow schools to spend the money the legislature allocates to them. Otherwise, Republicans play politics threatening to shut down public schools each spring.
Full funding for projects already approved by the School Facilities Board and Building Renewal Grants
School lunches for low-income students
Community College and other Adult Education Programs will allow working-age Arizonans who do not yet have a high school diploma to be a part of the skilled workforce we so very much need.
Children
$12 Million for childcare which will draw down $131 Million in federal dollars which is essential to families as well as employers.
Prevented harmful cuts to services and supports for children in DCS
Arts
$2 Million for the Arts Commission
Commerce
Funding for grants for business training, coaching, and technical assistance for underserved small business owners.
Housing
$15 Million for the Housing Trust Fund atop the $150 Million historic investment we made last year to address the affordable housing and homelessness crisis.
Healthcare
Funding for the Area Agency on Aging for Home and Community-based services for homebound seniors and people with disabilities.
15 additional staff members for the AZ Dept of Health for licensing, inspections, complaints, and enforcement. Currently, our licensing staff has one of the highest caseloads in the nation. These new hires will enforce health and safety standards in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities
Funding for Developmental Disability Services including job training and life skills
101 new staff to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse paid for entirely by cost savings generated by these positions.
Funding to continue a critical multi-year IT system update for a 40-year-old system.
Border and Drugs
Funding to address the fentanyl epidemic (Gov Hobbs' Stopping Arizona's Fentanyl Epidemic program)
Gov Hobbs' Local Border Support funding for DPS
Investments to safeguard citizens from cyber threats
Bills We Considered in the Last Days of the Session
SB1369 public schools; safety; reporting requirements (Bolick) An unfunded mandate that adds more reporting requirements for already over-regulated public schools, without requiring anything of private schools. It also demands that public schools provide information on character education programs at a time when the State School Superintendent has criticized schools that teach social-emotional learning (SEL). I voted NO because of concerns about data being misconstrued and used to attack our schools, but it passed 33-27. It's now on the Governor's desk.
SB1435 public entity liability; sexual offenses (Bolick) In another attempt to protect private schools and attack public schools, this bill now holds all cities, counties, and public (but not private) schools liable for any offenses by an employee even if the public entity didn't know of the offense. Perpetrators of such crimes should absolutely be held accountable, but it's dangerous to apply this overly broad language so that one person can win a lawsuit against any public entity. I voted NO, but it passed 34-26. It's on the Governor's desk.
SB1047 animal cruelty; failure to treat (Shope) I received 99 emails from constituents urging me to vote YES on this bill that would strengthen provisions in Arizona law to protect companion animals from failure to provide food, water, and shade in response to last year's animal abuse case in Chandler. When I asked Speaker Toma why it wasn't going up on the board for a vote, he told me that he didn't have enough Republicans on the bill. (This is a great example of the effect of the Republican rule that says a majority of the majority must approve of a bill in order for it to even receive a floor vote. The rule is to prevent a bill from passing with a majority of votes from Democrats - or for that matter, from allowing Democrat-sponsored bills to receive a floor vote should it even manage to beat the odds and be heard in committee). The bill is dead for this session.
SB1260 dog racing; simulcast wagering; prohibition (Kavanagh) While dog racing is already not permitted in Arizona, this seeks to protect greyhounds by phasing out simulcast racing from other countries also. I voted YES, and it passed 43-14. It awaits the Governor's signature.
SB1361 sober living homes (Carroll) The sober living home debacle has destroyed so many lives and defrauded the state of almost $2 billion while the Ducey administration ignored what was happening. In this session, all stakeholders were included in the development of this bill that creates new requirements for the Department of Health Services (DHS) relating to the licensing, oversight, and regulation of sober living homes and prescribes guidelines for the inspection and penalizing of those who violate state law. As Rep Tsosie(D) of the Navajo Nation said when he urged us to support the bill, while it is not perfect, it is an important first step. The issue needs ongoing work in future sessions. I voted YES, and it passed 52-6. It awaits the Governor's signature.
SB1665 municipal development; permits; review (Gowan) This bill would allow developers to circumvent the city building plan review and safety inspections process and select a private third party to approve their plans and certify their construction for occupancy. However, it lacks guardrails or processes for the city to ensure the third party is qualified to conduct plan reviews and safety inspections. While the intention to speed up the approval process is a worthy one, it should not come at the expense of quality controls that could result in homebuyers unknowingly purchasing a home with significant construction defects. The League of Cities & Towns opposed the bill. I voted NO, and it failed 18-40. It is dead for this session.
Agency Continuation Bills. Right-wing extremists have blocked many bills needed to allow state agencies vital to public safety from even being brought for a vote. On the last day of the session, when several of them were heard, I voted yes on the continuation of each, and all of them passed including:
HB2091 registrar of contractors agency; continuation (Hendrix) I voted YES to continue the Board of Technical Registration though it restricts the complaints or charges it may hear and investigate, and repeals the Home Inspector Rules and Standards Committee. It also continues with the Registrar of Contractors. It passed 45-8 and awaits the Governor's signature.
HB2209 Industrial Commission of Arizona; continuations (Livingston) I voted YES and it passed 47-10. It awaits the Governor's signature.
HB2210 state agencies; continuations; duties (Livingston) I voted YES on this bill to modify the powers and duties of the Arizona Commerce Authority and continue it, and it passed 45-12. It awaits the Governor's signature. \
HB2438 ADOT; continuation; administration; licensing; planning (Cook) I voted YES on this bill to continue the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) that oversees the building and maintenance of our highways and it passed 47-10. It awaits the Governor's signature.
Happy Juneteenth!
It's observed on June 19 to celebrate the effective end of slavery in the US. It was first celebrated in Texas in1865 when the news finally reached enslaved people that they had been declared free by the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. May we all continue together to make strides toward greater equality and freedom. Check out the Juneteenth 2024 celebrations in metro Phoenix.
LD2 North Phoenix Community Builders
Nominate Your Favorite Local Business!
As a lifelong member of our community, I'm so grateful to the many people and local businesses who make it such a great place to live. That's why I'm excited to be partnering with the Bell Road Business Alliance and Stoke Interactive to recognize many of the local Community Builders in our neighborhood.
Check out our website at LD2NPCB.com to learn more about past recipients and nominate your favorite locally-owned businesses or nonprofits in LD2. I'm honored to be a part of recognizing them in this way for the vital role they play in making our community the safe, thriving, unique place it is.
Goodbye to the House,
On to the State Senate!
Sine Die (Close of Session)
Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9:54 pm
I've agreed to run for the State Senate to help create a new majority focused on the concerns of everyday Arizonans, but couldn't leave the State House without a big thank you.
While I never imagined I would be a politician after retiring from teaching, it's been among the greatest honors of my life to serve our community in this way. Thank you! But no one can do this overwhelming job alone. Our assistants, our House staff, and our policy advisors make this work even possible.
I’ve been proud to represent all people of my district, whatever their party. I will continue to do so in the State Senate. Working on their behalf, I've already sponsored bills to reduce healthcare costs by detecting cancer before it’s diagnosed, capping prescription drug prices, and prohibiting facility fees that can double their doctors’ bills. I’ve run bills to stabilize the skyrocketing cost of housing, help keep seniors in their homes, and more. Very sadly, none of them has been allowed even a hearing by the one-seat Republican majority.
That’s to say nothing of the efforts of many of us to invest in public education that the Republican majority has very deliberately kept so underfunded that too many educators can no longer afford to teach in Arizona.
I’ve been especially proud to serve with fellow teachers Rep Jennifer Pawlik for the past four years and Rep Laura Terech and Rep Nancy Gutierrez on the House Education Committee for the past two.
Together with my Teacher Caucus, I've proposed legislation to increase teacher salaries, fund full-day kindergarten, increase the number of mental health professionals in our schools, and ensure safety and accountability for our children, whatever school their family chooses. Sadly, none of these important proposals have even been given a hearing in the Republican-controlled Education Committee. Nevertheless, we will persist.
In fact, as a proud musical theater nerd, I often find inspiration from something I call my Gospel According to Broadway. Right now, I'm especially moved by a song from a new show called Suffs set in 1913 during the fight for women's suffrage.....
The path will be twisted and risky and slow
But keep marching
Keep marching
Will you fail or prevail, well, you may never know
But keep marching
Keep marching 'cause your ancestors are all the proof you need
That progress is possible, not guaranteed
It will only be made if we keep marching, keep marching on
Keep marching on
Keep Marching with Us!
Join Our Campaign!
Our Legislative District Will Determine the Direction of our State & Nation
We need YOU to help elect an Arizona legislature focused on the real issues we face like the teacher, affordable housing, and water shortage crises; keeping our families safe from gun violence; and reducing healthcare and other costs. Turning out voters for LD2 will help elect Democrats all the way up the ballot
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Visit OUR NEW LD 2 Campaign office at 1524 W. Bell Road (behind the Discount Tire, next to the Liberty Tax office). You can still sign school board candidates and the access to abortion petitions there - or make phone calls - or write postcards.
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Be like Libby and Ed Goff who hosted a House Party to tell their neighbors about what's at stake in this election, and then encourage them to be like you and donate or volunteer. Thank you so much to the Goffs for the wonderful party they hosted on Sunday, June 2!
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Paid for by Judy for AZ. Authorized by Judy Schwiebert