HB 2250 Tax Cuts To Grow Arizona's Deficit

(January 25, 2010) HB 2250 enacts a broad range of tax cuts and tax incentives beginning in FY 12 when Arizona will still be facing multibillion dollar deficits and cuts to education and health care. These across the board tax cuts are not targeted to economic development and will add to the state’s fiscal problems.  Please click here for the fact sheet.  Details of the bill can be found here.

CAA Response to Brewer Budget Plan

(Jan 20, 2010) Last Friday, Governor Brewer released her proposals to balance the current year’s budget and the budget beginning July 1.  These budget proposals put us all face-to-face with the brutal reality of the depth of our deficit and the choices and tradeoffs we face. 

The Governor’s budget includes a mix of strategies. Click here to see a summary pie chart.  She proposes:  a penny increase in the state sales tax, borrowing money from the First Things First tobacco tax funds, mortgaging additional state buildings, and shifting more money from special funds to the general budget.  Even with these strategies, the budget still includes a 5% salary reduction for every state employee.  The proposal also includes more than $1 billion in budget CUTS – on top of the cuts that have been happening since March of 2009. 

The impact of these cuts on children, families, and Arizona jobs is truly stunning.  This budget relies on voters to un-do their priorities for health coverage and to give up more spending decisions to the legislature.  It calls on the legislature to eliminate a number of state programs and pass a sales tax increase with a 2/3 majority vote.

Click here for a list of major budget cuts proposed to children and families.

Legislative Report Card for Kids

(December 22, 2009) CAA today released its 2009 Legislative Report Card for Kids. Each year, the 90 members of our state legislature vote on dozens of pieces of legislation that shape the health, education, and safety of Arizona children and families.  Children’s Action Alliance believes that every lawmaker has the responsibility to vote for kids.  And our legislators should be held accountable and measured on their performance.  Click HERE to see how your legislators and the rest of the representatives and senators voted on key laws for kids in 2009.

Statement on Governor Brewer's Budget Measure

(December 21, 2009) Today Governor Brewer announced a series of budget actions that will have devastating effects on Arizona’s jobs, economy, and families.  These are emergency budget measures designed to help the state balance its books.  But there are no policies here designed to help families or businesses cope with the economic emergencies facing us or to help Arizona emerge stronger from this recession.  Click here for the entire press release.

10,000 Children Turned Away from Child Care

(December 3, 2009) 10,000 Arizona children are now on the “turn away” list for childcare subsidies. Since February, all eligible low income working families who applied for child care assistance have been turned away.  The closing of the program to new applicants was a direct result of budget cuts to the Department of Economic Security adopted by the state legislature and the Governor in January.  DES has sustained additional budget cuts in subsequent budget votes for the current fiscal year, including the most recent special session of the legislature. Read the entire press release here.

ABC's Revenue Alternatives

(November 18, 2009) At a press conference today, the Arizona Budget Coalition today called on the state legislature and Governor Brewer to pursue options to increase state revenues before considering any additional cuts to public education, universities, state employees, and vital health and human services. “The budget cuts already enacted have been substantial and will have a damaging effect on Arizona’s economy and its future. We realize that even more severe budget cuts are on the table,” said Dana Wolfe Naimark, President and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance.  Read the press release and revenue alternatives here.