Legionnaires,
The American Legion Department of Arizona has been working to help move legislators to remedy a potential funding crisis for our public schools.
As Legionnaires, we have a long history of promoting Americanism in our public schools and working for those good of children and youth. Last year, the Legislature adopted a great school budget and Governor Ducey signed it. However, a 1980 law requires the legislature to have a separate vote on authorizing funding when it passes a limit set in 1980. Sadly, the 1980 limit has never been amended for modern times. It leaves a problem that comes up when politics get heated – right now that problem, if not fixed by March 1st, may mean schools may have to cut back, furlough or lay off teachers and staff and some districts may have to end the school year early.
Across Arizona, there are 54 Junior ROTC programs, with 53 of them in public high schools. Junior ROTC is an “elective” class – and if schools face a funding crisis, electives like JROTC could be cut.
Many of the teachers and support staff in our public schools are veterans – and many of those veterans are Legionnaires. The school funding issue hits home with us.
Myself and our state legislative team have been working hard and making progress. The Arizona House of Representatives voted this week to authorize the AEL, the aggregate expenditure limit (the 1980 law). That leaves our state senate not yet voting. It takes a 2/3’s vote to pass the bill in both houses – one down, one to go – and the state senate is not there yet. Keep in mind, this bill is not about new taxes or new appropriation, it is about fulfilling the budget adopted late last year, but needs that extra OK because of the 1980 law.
Many of us are either parents or the grandparents, uncles or aunts of these fine school age kids. They are Arizona’s children and youth and our mission is to make sure there support so their schools stay open.
In the next few days, I may be asking you to call or email your state senator and kindly ask them to support the “AEL” vote – and ask them as members of The Legion, telling them respectfully we hold this as an important issue.
We are grateful that the Arizona House has taken the first step. We are working, and will need your help, to take the next one. As Legionnaires, we know there are politics in government. This is not about “red” or “blue,” but our patriotism of red, white and blue and our standing up for our communities because as Legionnaires, that is our history and dedication.
For God and Country,
Ben Headen
Department Commander
