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State Legislature passes responsible budget
By Rep. Manny Alvarez/D-Elfrida
The final days of the 2008 legislative session were busy ones. Legislators and staff worked late into the night to finish legislation and to come to a compromise on the budget. After a lot of hard work, the Legislature recently approved a $9.9 billion budget.
The budget resolves a $2 billion deficit. At the same time, the budget responsibly plans for Arizona's future by protecting important health care, education, and public safety services. I am very pleased that the bipartisan coalition behind the budget was able to reach a compromise and prevent a government shutdown. As a former long-time state employee, I know that a shutdown would have had negative consequences for Arizonans. In addition, I am very happy that the budget avoids severe layoffs. The overall economy is experiencing some difficulties now. Rural Arizona would have faced even more negative consequences if many state employees had been laid off from their jobs.
The budget will enable Arizona to continue to advance by providing funding opportunities for our universities. The universities will have access to money for new buildings, maintenance, and the completion of the Phoenix medical school. By completing the Phoenix medical school, we can help to make more doctors available in Arizona. Hopefully, more doctors will be available to serve the rural parts of the state. The budget also protects voluntary, all-day kindergarten programs and direct classroom funding. Also, the budget reduces the amount of time that uninsured small business employees have to wait before becoming eligible for health insurance. It is vital that we continue to increase access to affordable health insurance.
While the 2008 legislative session dragged on longer than some would like, the final compromised budget is reasonable and responsible.
Rep. Manny Alvarez can be reached at malvarez @azleg.gov or at 602-926-5895.
The budget resolves a $2 billion deficit. At the same time, the budget responsibly plans for Arizona's future by protecting important health care, education, and public safety services. I am very pleased that the bipartisan coalition behind the budget was able to reach a compromise and prevent a government shutdown. As a former long-time state employee, I know that a shutdown would have had negative consequences for Arizonans. In addition, I am very happy that the budget avoids severe layoffs. The overall economy is experiencing some difficulties now. Rural Arizona would have faced even more negative consequences if many state employees had been laid off from their jobs.
The budget will enable Arizona to continue to advance by providing funding opportunities for our universities. The universities will have access to money for new buildings, maintenance, and the completion of the Phoenix medical school. By completing the Phoenix medical school, we can help to make more doctors available in Arizona. Hopefully, more doctors will be available to serve the rural parts of the state. The budget also protects voluntary, all-day kindergarten programs and direct classroom funding. Also, the budget reduces the amount of time that uninsured small business employees have to wait before becoming eligible for health insurance. It is vital that we continue to increase access to affordable health insurance.
While the 2008 legislative session dragged on longer than some would like, the final compromised budget is reasonable and responsible.
Rep. Manny Alvarez can be reached at malvarez @azleg.gov or at 602-926-5895.
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