Arizona: Kyrsten Sinema

by David Safier
A news release from the Democratic Caucus in the state house says the funding to deal with health crises like the swine flu was wiped out by the 2009 budget cuts:

A state law requiring a Health Crisis Fund specifically created to combat emergency epidemics like the Swine Flu, was eliminated in the legislature’s 2009 budget, House Democrats said Wednesday at a press conference.
 
Officials identified on Wednesday the first case of Swine Flu in Arizona.
 
House Democrats also are asking Gov. Jan Brewer to use flexible federal stimulus dollars to re-establish the Health Crisis Fund and hope to work together with both the legislature and the governor in a bipartisan way to combat this statewide health emergency.

New York Yankees. Chicago Bulls. House Ducks?
Yes, add the state House of Representatives' softball team to the pantheon of repeat champions. For the sixth year in a row, the House beat their Senate counterparts, the Senate Eagles,  in the annual softball game, 14-7.

"It was painfully easy to win," House co-captain Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, reported. "The Senate really sucked."
Such language on the House floor! But all's fair in sports, apparently.
Sinema's fellow captain, Rep. Andy Biggs credited his team's win to its MVP -- Rep. Rich Crandall, R-Mesa.
"Was he there?" Biggs asked rhetorically. "The answer was 'no'!" And that, apparently, is why ...

read the rest of this post

State Senator Rebecca Rios

PHOENIX -- A bill that would give school districts and governing boards until June 15 to renew contracts with teachers in reality hurts teachers and students and gives Republican lawmakers more time to delay the massive cuts they intend to make to K-12 education.

The current contract deadline is April 15, and Republicans argue that the bill (HB2630) would give schools more time to see how much funding is cut from K-12 education in the 2010 budget before they decided to renew teacher contracts. But that is far from reality.

The state House gave preliminary approval Thursday to a controversial - and possibly illegal - transfer of funds from a voter-approved initiative to keep state parks open.

The voice vote came over objections from several Democrats who said while the goal might be worthwhile, the maneuver violates the Arizona Constitution. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, even predicted not only that the state would be sued but that it would lose, putting taxpayers on the hook for legal fees.

Tight budget may close 5 state parks

State board delays decision on closing parks

3 more state parks added to closure list

That did not deter Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Gilbert, who crafted the plan.