Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Last night's budget forum at ASU

For nearly three emotionally-wracked hours on Monday evening, 14 members of the Democratic caucus of the state legislature listened to Arizonans tell of the devastation to their lives caused by the draconian budget cuts imposed on the state's education and human services structure.

Hosts Sen. Meg Burton-Cahill and Reps. David Schapira and Ed Ableser (all representing LD17, the home of ASU) were joined by colleagues from all over the state - Sen. Jorge Luis Garcia and Representatives Rae Waters, Kyrsten Sinema, David Lujan, Pat Fleming, Lynne Pancrazi, Daniel Patterson, Matt Heinz, Chad Campbell, Tom Chabin, and Christopher Deschene, who all graciously took the time out of their lives to visit Tempe.

While there were folks from all parts of society there, the developmentally disabled community was particularly well-, and heart-breakingly, represented.

ASU Web Devil coverage here; AZ Republic coverage here. In addition, Rep. Patterson's blog entry covering the event is here.

I'll have more later after I get the pics of the event uploaded, but Patterson's blog post touches on something I want to mention now.

On Thursday, there will be a rally at the State Capitol from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. to support saving services for Arizona's Children with Disabilities.

Everyone is urged to attend to make your voice heard.

More later...

Edit to add (info courtesy Rep. Steve Farley's latest Farley Report):

Next Thursday, March 5, there will be a similar forum at U of A in Tucson.

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: U of A Student Union, South Ballroom, 1330 E. University Blvd., Tucson

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