Of all the dreadful experiences at the Legislature, the absolute worst has been the process and result of this year’s budget “debate.”

In point of fact, there has been no debate — certainly no public debate and, at this moment, the Arizona House and Senate are ramming through a short-sighted budget that is bad for kids and families.

At least in years past the public had the perception that they had a voice. With little to no time for public testimony, this year there hasn’t even been the appearance.

No time for a low-income working parents to say that without a childcare subsidy they will be forced to quit work or leave their children in unsafe situations; no time for an overwhelmed Child Protective Services worker to say that without a reduced caseload and supports, more kids will be at risk for abuse and neglect and more families will have to lose their children; and no time for parents of kids caught up in the juvenile justice system to say that their kids deserve by law, common sense and decency, the right to be in safe surroundings.

No time — our legislators are in a rush: too much of a rush to listen, too much of a rush to analyze, too much of a rush to think about tomorrow.

Since the legislative budget underfunds childcare subsidies by $23 million, what will tomorrow look like for a working parent earning $25,000 who won’t be able to afford the $5,000 per year price tag for childcare≠

Since the legislative budget underfunds child protective services by $34 million, what will tomorrow look like for the 3-year-old who is at risk of abuse or neglect≠ Will that tomorrow be a childhood wallowing in foster care, never finding a place to call home≠

Since the legislative budget underfunds the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections by $8 million so it can comply with the agreement reached with the U.S. Justice Department to prevent the verbal, physical and sexual abuse of youth, what will tomorrow look like for the troubled youth committed to the department≠

These are the choices that the Legislature is making in your name, and, make no mistake about it, these choices have absolutely nothing to do with fiscal responsibility. We have the money.

What possible justification is there for $300 million (when fully phased in) in tax cuts when we’re making life harder for working families and abused kids≠ How come we have the money for tax cuts for big multi-state corporations when we don’t have the money for childcare subsidies for working parents≠

Moreover, revenues next year are $220 million stronger than legislators originally anticipated, but they seem unwilling to devote one dime of this for working families and abused children.

The governor has put forth a proposal that actually balanced the budget even before this $220 million became available, and she still managed to protect kids and families.

In Arizona, among our policymakers, there are two very different ideas about doing what’s best for vulnerable kids and families. Two different stories about the kind of state we want our kids to grow up in. In one, we are obligated only to the kids in our families. In the other, we are connected as members of a community. In one, we are all privatized. In the other, we are bound together.

This budget does not bind us together. It hurts kids and families. It should not stand.

Carol Kamin is president and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance, a nonprofit research, education and advocacy organization. Its Web site is www.azchildren.org