A World Gone Mad

Lawmakers look to raid the reserve cash of the already suffering Arizona school districts to backfill the state budget shortfall:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/115213.php
"Officials of several school groups expressed strong concerns about the proposal. "

Since when are schools supposed to be funding the state? Isn't it the other way around. 600+ pink slips that went out in Tucson (TUSD) this semester. Those former employees will want to collect unemployment and won't be paying as many taxes as before, making the cycle worse, not better, and the school districts need some resources! How are they supposed to teach?

Rep. Carl Seel proposed this idea. Don't forget to send him an e-mail and tell him if you're opposed to it: cseel@azleg.gov, or call (602) 926-3018

Gov. Brewer's 100th day in office and still no budget:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/115214.php

"As Republicans panned the tax increase idea and started considering borrowing and other alternatives previously on the no-go list, Democrats tried to change the subject.
They called on Brewer to spell out a plan for solving a crisis that has led to state employees layoffs, funding cuts for safety-net programs and thousands of school teachers put on notice they may lose their jobs. "

This AP article somehow fails to mention the closed-door meeting and some Democrats' claims that the bulk of the legislature has been entirely excluded from these budget negotiations.