In the wee hours of the morning last week, the Arizona
Legislature adjourned the 2014 Session. This Session had no lack of debate, but
when it mattered, there was a great deal of cooperation to get things done for
Arizona. All in all, I believe that our work helps to move our state forward and
make it stronger in the process.
Some Legislative highlights for me
include:
- Almost $200 million NEW K-12 education funding
- More than 200 NEW child protection service caseworkers added
- $38.5 million in NEW funding for our state's Universities
- $120 million over the next 3 years for highway repairs
- Over $6 million to Community Colleges for STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
- Funding for the VA for mental health therapy
- Passing a sex trafficking bill that Governor Brewer has already signed into law
With the 2014 Session behind us, we aren’t finished yet.
We will be holding a Special Session, most likely by the end of May, where we
will address our state’s new child welfare agency. This new agency is replacing
the dysfunctional office of Child Protective Services. We will be working to
establish ground rules, responsibilities, and funding for this new agency in
order to never ignore or fail to investigate cases of children in abusive or
neglected situations.
We accomplished much this Session, and I truly
appreciate your support
as I have served in the Arizona Legislature. Now, I begin a new chapter. I am
running for Arizona Secretary of State and can still use that support
you have given me over the past several years. I face a tough challenge in the
Primary Election, but I am the ONLY candidate that
brings to the table the right combination of a relevant private-sector business
background AND the necessary legislative experience to
fulfill the role of Secretary of State.
Thank you.
Michele
