O’Halleran Bills Should Be Applauded, Supported

We live in an age of reason, but to watch some of our state legislators you wouldn’t know it. They live in the “age of the ostrich,” sticking their heads in the sand to avoid facing Arizona’s water woes.

Action by Rep. Tom O’Halleran, R-1, introducing legislation that will address these issues should be actively supported and applauded by all of us. [Drought Will Bring Water Issues To Forefront, Lawmaker Says — Arizona Capitol Times, Feb. 4, 2005]

We are managing our water issues in Arizona with tools from the 19th century.

Information now available can guide us to management decisions that will put us on the road to sustainable water use. What other course is there≠

To continue to allow development without taking into account whether there is an adequate water supply for such development is not a course based on ignorance, it is a course based on desperation and greed.

To base development plans on the idea that more water can be had from Arizona’s rural areas is showing total disregard for the very lifestyle and atmosphere people come here for.

Growth in Arizona is a given, that is sure. I would demand our legislators make “growing smarter” more than just a slogan and apply it to their own decision-making. —

—Ryna Rock, Camp Verde

Who Stands To Gain In School Vending Machine Issue≠

Action for Healthy Kids-AZ feels that it must respond to negative publicity and outright attacks launched against our organization and H2544. The two pieces came in a commentary and then in a letter published in Arizona Capitol Times. [Local Schools Can Police Their Own Vending Machines, Feb. 4, and, Research On Schools That Banned Snacks Is Flawed, Feb. 11]

Our group encourages the readers of Arizona Capitol Times, legislators, statewide school boards, teachers and parents to use this litmus test to cut through the rhetoric surrounding H2544: follow the money. Better yet, ask yourself, “What possible profit motive does the Arizona Department of Education, Action for Healthy Kids, and its various nonprofit health agency partners have in supporting H2544≠” How about representatives of the beverage, snack and vending machine industry who oppose H2544≠ Which group do you really believe is looking out for the health and welfare of our children≠ Action for Healthy Kids-AZ is about creating schools that support sound nutrition and physical activity.

The assertion that there is “insufficient data” to make a case for H2544 is preposterous. The Arizona Department of Education could have forgone the pilot study and Rep. Mark Anderson, R-18, could have referred to the position statements of the American Dietetic Association, the Society for Nutrition Education, the American School Food Service Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, the resolution of the National PTA to Combat Childhood Obesity, along with others, to justify H2544 on its own merit.

Equally preposterous is the assertion that Action For Healthy Kids-AZ invited members from the vending and beverage industry to meetings motivated by our desire to look inclusive and then retracted the invitation after our needs were met. They were invited to become members. We will continue to hold open meetings and will collaborate with anyone interested in improving the health and well being of children.

Ironically, if these opponents would have participated in earnest, instead of attempting to disrupt meetings, they would realize that it’s very possible to provide healthy choices that meet the nutritional guidelines of the National School Lunch Program and still make enough money to share with schools. Nationally, our group provides resources and expertise to vending machine and snack distributors to help them make the transition without losing money.

Opponents clearly think this is an issue of self-responsibility and children should be mature enough to abstain or make healthier choices. Our group says the opponents should lead the way by placing children’s health first and profit second.—

—Andy Weiler, co-chairman, Action For Healthy Kids-AZ*

*Action for Healthy Kids is a nationwide initiative dedicated to improving the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools. Its Web site is www.actionforhealthykids.org

‘Health Care Conscience Bill’ Is Waste Of Taxpayer Dollars

I’ve read the text of the “health care conscience” bill being considered by Legislature. H2541 would allow pharmacists to refuse prescriptions based on their moral beliefs. Reps. Doug Quelland, R-10; John Allen, R-11; Rep. Andy Biggs, R-22 and Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-22, sponsor it.

This bill is a complete waste of taxpayer money.

Pharmacists don’t want this bill. The Arizona Pharmacy Alliance polled its members several times and none said they needed this bill. Why are our legislators writing bills that aren’t wanted≠

The bill duplicates policies already in place. Professional pharmacists’ organizations already have policies allowing pharmacists to refuse prescriptions for reasons of conscience. Is the purpose of the Legislature to enact laws that duplicate existing industry regulations≠

The bill is intrusive. Estimates are that more than 90 per cent of American women use birth control at some point in their lives. Should 90 per cent of Arizona’s women be refused their prescriptions because the person on duty at the time doesn’t believe the prescription is “morally acceptable≠”

Our legislators should be ashamed of themselves for wasting taxpayer money this way. I can only fume and wonder what is next. —

—Heather Barr, Phoenix

Unifying School Districts Takes Power Away From Citizens

I have read S1068 with fear and trepidation. I can find nothing in the bill that might suggest a logical reason for “unifying” school districts. [Educators, Lawmakers Discuss District Size, Consolidation — Jan. 28, 2005]

Unification will only take power and control away from citizens. It certainly won’t improve the education of our children.

Consolidation of school districts may resolve a problem in Phoenix or Maricopa County, but it also will create bigger problems for the rest of Arizona at costs that greatly outweigh the little money that might be saved.

District consolidation based only on dollars and contrived numbers generated by an accountant is a bad idea. I do not believe you will find any statistical support for the premise that a huge, impersonal, politically motivated school district is more efficient or provides a better education than a small, community-controlled district with a distinct identity.

District consolidation will take a fundamental democratic unit — school-governing boards — away from locals. For example, Bonita Elementary School District has approximately 100 students. The district represents about 225 registered voters. What voice would we have in our school affairs if we were attached to a district with 6,000 students and 15,000 voters≠ The answer is simple — none!

What consolidation would mean to rural school districts is devastation. What it means to the larger districts is money.

In the Bonita School District is the EuroFresh greenhouse, a large agricultural enterprise that, according to the county tax assessor, will almost double the county’s tax base when completed. The larger districts do not see how they can help our 100 students; they see how they can increase their revenue by increasing the tax rate and their tax base, take the funds to their district and dole back
a small portion to our school. This form of governmental policy is already hard at work in Graham County. The Bonita area generates much more tax revenue than we receive as a tax benefit. Our area can’t even get a refuse transfer station. We are good enough to tax, but not important enough to service.

As few legislators know, Phoenix and Maricopa County are a world apart from beautiful Bonita. We are a ranching/farming community with a school and a prison. We count on each other for help, because we can’t count on county or state government except to deny or cut services and raise taxes. If you take away our only democratic unit for control of our own destiny, what do we have left≠ A vote of 225 to 15,000 will sound no warning; we might just as well whisper into the wind.

If you want to help education and schools in Arizona, get rid of some of the mandated tests. —

—Joseph A Chapin, Bonita