Thursday, February 25, 2010

Could There Be Another Way?

Posted By on Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 11:49 AM

penny.jpg

In January, Oregon voters passed several tax increases to counter the state's $700 million budget shortfall—doing just the opposite of the Arizona Legislature—namely tax increases on corporations and those with higher incomes.

The one-cent sales-tax initiative that goes in front of Arizona voters in May won't get close to raising what the state needs to cover its own budget mess, but a group of educators and school supporters are hoping to start a movement to counter any Tea Bagger anti-tax sentiment that could keep the meager tax from passing. See their Facebook page here.

To build support for school and education, the Arizona Education Association has organized March4Schools, a statewide march, at 4 p.m. on March 4. The local effort is at Reid Park. For info, call 358-8731.

Yes! Magazine took a close look here at the Oregon tax increases approved by voters and offers some tools the AEA and others could use—a different message than what the Tea Bags want us to believe: that education and our children are important and are worth more than a penny or two.

AEA March4Schools Statewide Day of Action
On March 4, 2010, at 4 p.m., thousands of education supporters statewide will mobilize in community outreach actions. These concurrent actions will have teachers, education support professionals, and parents sharing their stories about the impact of legislative funding cuts to their schools with the voting public in an effort to bring attention to the anti-education legislators who are attacking the teachers and schools in their neighborhood.

Every March4Schools Day of Action participant will wear a t-shirt that can be purchased online to demonstrate the broad and deep unified support for quality public education for every child in Arizona. Don't miss out on the March4Schools Statewide Day of Action. Visit www.march4schools.com for more information.