Dear Editor,

Last week, a national report revealed some troubling news about education in Arizona.

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Arizona has reduced per-pupil funding to K-12 schools by 22 percent. As a result, Arizona ranks number one in making the deepest cuts to education in the entire nation.

This is no surprise to parents and teachers. Politicians at the State Capitol have consistently cut funding for our children and their votes have put Arizona at the bottom in education. This not how we value our students and this is not how we attract quality jobs to Arizona.

As a father of three children, education was important in my household. As a Legislator, it was a priority in the State House. That’s why I helped passed all-day Kindergarten and voted to invest in our state universities for research.

Four years later, the Republican-controlled legislature eliminated all-day Kindergarten, raised state tuition and gave tax breaks to billion dollar companies.

We cannot stand by and let Arizona’s children be short-changed by shortsighted leaders.

Despite these numbers, I am optimistic about Arizona’s future. In order to re-build our economy, we must invest in education. We need to educate our future nurses, teachers, and engineers. Expand community colleges to re-train workers. I want to see the label, “MADE IN ARIZONA” again.

Arizona has ranked last for too long.

Sincerely,

/s/Ernest Bustamante

Former Arizona State Representative

Mammoth, AZ

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