What to Expect: Gov. Brewer’s “State of the State,” January 2010 **Updated**
**UPDATE** Text of Governor Brewer’s “State of the State” address can be found here.
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At approximately 1:20 PM Monday, January 11, Governor Brewer will deliver her much anticipated “State of the State” address, in which she will promise to “right our ship” and “bring Arizona back home.” Governor Brewer’s address signals the return of Arizona lawmakers to the Capitol where they will begin work to address the state’s budget crisis.
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Today’s articles in both the Arizona Daily Star and the Arizona Republic highlight the crisis — that which is seen, as well as that which is unseen. Rest stops have been closed. State parks could be shut down by July of 2010. Our state’s disabled and poor have lost needed services. And “78 percent of the K-12 dollars that aren’t protected by voter mandates or federal requirements” have been cut.
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With a current budget-year deficit of nearly $1.4 billion, the second session of the 49th Legislature promises more cuts with very little mentioned in projected plans for revenue. State employees could see a 5% pay cut, as well as layoffs in various department/agencies. As reported in the Arizona Republic, a bill to end all-day kindergarten is expected to be introduced this week, and will be one of the cuts to Education. Representative Lucy Mason (LD-1 Prescott) who once supported the all-day approach to educating our state’s kindergartners, is now supporting ending the program because “[W]e can’t afford it….It’s not that our hearts aren’t in the right place.” In addition, voter protected funds, as well as Health and Human Services, are also seen as vulnerable.
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Be sure to tune in to your local news Monday evening for coverage of Governor Brewer’s “State of the State” address. Additionally, many media outlets will be covering the address live, as well as in review. Channel Eight Arizona PBS (Phoenix) will air a special one-hour HORIZON at 7 PM featuring Governor Brewer’s address followed by commentary.
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Where to find live coverage:
Television:
KUAT Channel 6 – Tucson at 1 PM
Live stream on the radio & Internet:
KUAZ 89.1 FM – Tucson
KUAZ 91.7 FM – Sierra Vista
KUAS 1550 AM – Tucson
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Related news:
I plan to right our ship and restore common sense ~ Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona Republic “View Points”, 1/10/10
Gov. Brewer to Talk Taxes, Economy ~ KJZZ 91.5 FM, Mark Brodie, 1/10/10
AZ running out of accounting gimmicks ~ Arizona Daily Star, (Bodfield, AZ Star; Fischer, Capitol Media), 1/10/10
The unseen pain of cuts to state budget ~ Arizona Republic, Mary Jo Pitzl, 1/10/10
CVBugle – Editorial: State of the State: Tough times for Brewer ~ Campe Verde Bugle, 1/9/10
CRUNCH TIME: Lawmakers face grueling decisions Monday ~ The Daily Courier [Prescott], Joanna Dodder Nellans, 1/9/10
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