Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1355740
AT THE CAPITOL 6 ADVOCATE | SPRING 2021 S enate Bill (SB)1783 is a direct attack on the Invest in Education Act. is bill creates a tax evasion scheme for large corporations to divert #INVESTinED dollars away from public education and back into the hands of the wealthy. Voters approved INVESTinED because we believe in our students and educators and SB1783 undermines the will of the voters by divesting these education funds. On March 3, 2021, SB1783 passed the Senate along party lines with Republicans voting for and Democrats against. e bill is now its way to the House of Representatives. On the same day, a Fiscal Note came out from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) estimating SB1783 would take away $527 MILLION from INVESTinED funding. On March 10, education advocates held a motor march driving their cars in protest of SB1783 at the Capitol. AEA members and leaders will continue these efforts every Wednesday until this bill is dead. O n February 26 and March 8, AEA hosted two virtual lobby days with hundreds of educators from across the state participating. Prior to the pandemic, AEA hosted visits to the Capitol where members could learn about the legislative process and schedule to meet with their elected official. is year, AEA held this even virtually via Zoom and invited legislators to meet and answer questions from members. e events started with an overview of the legislation AEA is monitoring and an explanation of priority bills. Chandler Education Association President Katie Nash led participants through a presentation about how a bill becomes law and ways to lobby legislators through emails and phone calls. Members particularly enjoyed talking with the legislators who attended. Gilbert Education Association member Debra Jo Borden thanked Senator Christine Marsh for her service and for representing teachers at the Capitol. Senator Marsh is a past Arizona Teacher of the Year and recently won her election last November. e freshman senator is still teaching and is a member of the Scottsdale Education Association. She said that her time as a teacher has helped prepare her to be a senator and has found both roles are helpful for each other. AEA thanks all the participants and legislators who attended our first virtual lobby days, including Senators Lela Alston, Christine Marsh, and Martín Quezada and Representatives Jennifer Pawlik, Athena Salman, and Judy Schwiebert. Legislators Funding Tax Cuts with INVESTinED Money AEA Hosts 1st Virtual Lobby Days Go to arizonaea.org/investined to call your Representatives and ask them to vote NO on SB1783. At the link you will be directed to fill out your contact information, then you will receive an automated phone call with a script. You will then be connected to your Representatives office. It's likely you will not speak with a live person and instead leave a message on their voicemail. Take Action