A frustrating few days!  As expected, my Colorado City schools bill faced a bit of trouble in the Senate but did manage to pass the Education committee 4-2.  Now the Appropriations chair says he is not going to hear any more bills until the budget bills are ready -- who knows when that will be!  This despite the fact that my bill has nothing to do with the 2006-07 budget but is an emergency appropriation from the current year.  I am learning to work with the system to either try to get the chairman to change his mind or agree to the withdrawal of the bill from that committee and let it go directly to the floor.  I should know in the next day or so what it's fate is.  The problem in that the school district has a June 1 deadline approaching for a bond payment, and without this legislative help they may be forced to default. 

 

The bill for rural medical residencies faces the same fate, but I've been assured that there is already a place in the budget for the funds.  My bill has been amended to include some money going to already established residency programs in Phoenix and Tucson, a change that I did not like but that was necessary to advance any help for our outlying areas.  As they say, that's politics!

 

The ELL bill goes to the judge on Monday.  Again we'll be forced to wait while he decides whether our plan is sufficient.  The good news is that the 9th Circuit stayed the distribution of any of the "fines" pending Superindent Horne's appeal.  I don't believe the recent demonstrations have helped the cause of those who favor spending almost unlimited amounts of money teaching children who shouldn't be here in the first place to speak English.

 

Speaking of demonstrations, House security has told me they expect 100,000 protestors next Monday at a rally here at the Capitol.  Unfortunate timing, as the Bionic Bulldogs from Kingman have planned a trip to Phoenix to be honored for their win at the Robotics competition.  We had hoped they would bring the robot with them and provide a demonstration of their own on the mall.  And we may still plan on that, if their coach thinks it will be prudent for them to do so.

 

Until next week,

 

Nancy