Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

As a retired public school educator with more than 31 years devoted to serving thousands of Arizona’s students and their families, I am concerned that the public has been given some misinformation about public pensions.

The Arizona Historical Society, now a state agency, proudly boasts that it was founded in 1864. Unfortunately, the claim is not true.

In response to the July 17 article, “Administrative bloat? Republican lawmaker sets sights on school tax credit organizations,” we agree that Student Tuition Organizations have a responsibility to minimize administrative costs and dedicate more funds to the students we serve.

We Build Arizona is composed of Arizonans like you – people who want to make a difference and are committed to building our great state. Our primary goal is simple: To protect and grow state and local infrastructure funding.

This summer marks Head Start’s 50th anniversary. As a proud Head Start graduate and an educator, I can speak first hand to the life-changing difference a quality early childhood education makes in a young life.

In his article “Facts show Polk’s claim about marijuana deaths among children is misleading,” (June 22 online and June 26 in print), Ben Giles falls head over heels trying to minimize the Arizona Fatality Report that links marijuana use to 62 child deaths in Arizona in 2013.

According to 2007 and 2013 Gallup polls, lobbying is the most despised profession. Lobbyists are ranked below lawyers, used car salesmen, and even politicians.

The same year I was born, my dad was diagnosed with a genetic form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and told he had 20 years to live. When I was 20, I was diagnosed with the same kidney disease that took my father’s life in his early 40’s.

It has become fashionable in certain political circles to try to minimize the ramifications of the $99 million cut to the public higher education budget by presenting some misleading “facts.”

Many people are concerned about the lack of support for education, child support, etc. in the Legislature’s recently approved budget. But, it is inevitable when the mantra of “No New Taxes” is our highest priority, as supported for years by the majority of those who voted!