Dozens of 8th and 9th graders from around the state will descend upon the State Capitol Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for their own version of March Madness. The 90 students are semifinalists in the 2012 Arizona EGUMPP Grammar Bowl. They will compete on the floors of the Senate and House, sitting at the desks of the Members. The students will complete a 90 minute, six-part grammar test. In the end, 24 students will move on to the finals.

Senate Education Chair Rich Crandall has been a key force behind the Grammar Bowl. “These are impressive young people, and they’ll be putting on quite a show at the legislature,” said Senator Crandall.

The EGUMPP Grammar Bowl moves on to Grand Canyon University for the Finals on April 14.

The Grammar Bowl is sponsored by EGUMPP (Electronic Grammar Usage Mechanics Proficiency Program), a web-based solution for learning grammar, usage, punctuation, and writing mechanics. EGUMPP was developed by Bob Safran, a publisher and business school owner who realized his incoming students had poor grammar skills.

Majority Leader Andy Biggs appeared on Channel 8’s Arizona Horizon to talk about the plan to balance this year’s state budget

Long hours still the norm for retiring Sen. Gray

By Renee Rivers, Special to The Glendale Star

When Linda Gray bounded upstairs between bill readings in Committee of the Whole (COW), I asked how it was going.

“This is one of many long days these past weeks when I’ve not been home before 8 p.m.,” she said.

Escorting me to the lounge behind the chamber, she smiled and showed me her long presentation schedule. You can tell she’s at home here. She should be. This is her last of 16 years in office.

Born and raised in Missouri, the dedicated public servant was drawn to service from volunteering in her children’s classes.

“I had great role models. My dad was a volunteer fireman. My mom taught Sunday school,” she said.

Sen. Gray’s favorite part of being a senator includes helping people. She’s particularly proud of the DUI laws she’s worked.

“Interlock has reduced fatalities by 17 percent . . . .” The most difficult parts are the way the party has changed and “…trying to please everyone.”

Gray’s bills begin with people.

“People come to you trying to solve a problem.”

A mother visited her who could not take care of her daughter’s affairs because her daughter’s death certificate could not be issued until cause of death was determined. So Gray sponsored a bill requiring death certificates within 72 hours.

Although the senator scrolls through as many as 2,000 e-mails a week, she still finds this the easiest form of constituent communication.

Regarding education, her constituents are concerned about school funding and student success. She’s concerned about teacher morale in the face of this and the mortgage crisis and challenges teachers face when families are in transition.

Regarding the idea that a large number of people feel they have no representation, she said, “They need to get out and get people who agree with them to vote. Our district has a 1-percent difference between Republican and Democrat.”

She also said, “Constituents can speak in any committee hearing on any issue.”

On charter schools versus public schools, Gray said, “There should be a choice. Not all needs are met in public schools.”

Here, the senator’s assistant, Christina, stopped to provide a bill update. The senator asked about her kids. I wonder if she’s thinking of her own kids, grown, now serving the community as an eighth-grade math teacher in Peoria and a nurse, her years of public service perhaps an inspiration to their service-oriented professions.

If given only three issues to focus on, Gray would 1.) Choose more funding for K-12, which has “been shortchanged the last three years, but shorted the least in latest cuts.” 2.) Provide more help for addicts, since drugs kill families, take parents from kids, and addicts contribute to the high cost of prison expenses. 3.) Provide kids access to higher education.

Gray said she would most like constituents to understand that she works hard.

She said, “I listen. Try to call people back. I want kids to get a good education… .” When Senator Gray campaigns on core family value issues, she won’t change her mind.

She said, “My word is important.”

Governor Brewer Tuesday signed SB 1128, a bill sponsored by Senator Sylvia Allen that should speed certain adoptions for Arizona families.

In Arizona, the courts are required to conduct a home study to determine if a particular adoption is in the best interests of the child. This new law now requires that the home study consists only of a criminal records check and a central registry records check if the prospective adoptive parent is the child’s step-parent or the adult sibling, aunt, uncle or grandparent.

“I am so grateful that Governor Brewer signed SB 1128, the family adoption bill. This will allow families to be able to adopt close relatives without spending thousands of dollars. For many families, those costs mean the family adoptions don’t happen,” says Senator Allen. SB 1128 also shortens the time required for the prospective adoptive parent to have lived with the child, from one year to six months.

A landmark effort to protect Arizona’s military facilities by allowing state trust lands to be exchanged for federal land has been approved by the State Senate. The bipartisan 24-6 vote allows SB 1001 and SCR1001 to be transferred to the House of Representatives.

If approved, the bills will allow Arizona to exchange state trust land for federal land in the same county. The exchanges will require approval of the state legislature and voters statewide.

“With the Obama Administration preparing significant cuts in defense spending, it’s more important than ever for the state to proactively protect its military facilities,” said Senator John Nelson, who sponsored both bills. “Without this legislation,Arizona’s military facilities—and the communities they support—are at risk.”

Military faculties such as Luke Air Force Base in Senator Nelson’s district, as well as Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, have come under threat due to the encroachment of development of private land. “If state trust land near military facilities is allowed to be developed, many of these bases would be forced to close,” says Senator Nelson.

Currently, military bases are one of the largest employers within the state of Arizona. They offer a tremendous and irreplaceable economic impact to local economies and provide tax revenue, which help to fund Arizona schools, healthcare, and public safety institutions.

The bill sponsor also expressed hope that the legislation will allow state trust land to be consolidated, thus increasing its value and corresponding revenue to Arizona’s schools and universities.

“This is a win-win for the state, its military facilities, and its schools,” says Senator Nelson.

Governor Brewer today signed SB 1047, a bill sponsored by Senator Rick Murphy of Peoria that will open up more educational options for Arizona families.

The bill maintains Arizona’s rich history of providing parents with educational choices. It provides new and expanded options for donations to School Tuition Organizations, or STOs. These STOs provide scholarships to help students whose parents feel their children are not well-served by their current schools.

Most STOs have more families asking for relief than current available funds can accommodate. That sometimes prevents parents from providing their children with a more individualized education.

Senator Murphy believes this new law will lead to an increase in contributions to STOs and a large decrease in students on waiting lists.

“It is important that we continue to enhance our tradition of providing Arizonans with educational options for our children. Increasing the capacity for scholarship funds will allow more parents to send their children to a school that fits their specific needs,” says Senator Murphy.

The new program is for students who are choosing to leave a public school for a private or parochial school.

The President of the Arizona Senate today reminded the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission that the Commission doesn’t have an unlimited budget and needs to watch its spending before it can expect any more appropriations from the Legislature.

“The Executive Director of the IRC is telling the media he expects the Commission will spend nearly $500,000 just this month. That is a staggering amount of money for an organization of this size. The IRC has already spent more than $350,000 on legal fees!” says Senate President Steve Pierce.

The Senate President connected the way the IRC is handling its budget with the way the Legislature is managing the state’s budget.

“We made some very difficult decisions last year in holding the line on spending. Republican leadership in the Senate and House lived up to its promise to deliver a truly balanced budget, and we intend to do it again this year. That is why I am especially sensitive to folks who don’t seem to live within their means,” says President Pierce.

The IRC is asking the Legislature for a $1.13 million bailout, because of its overspending. The Governor’s Budget Office has already authorized the IRC to use a portion of its fourth quarter allotment to pay its current bills. President Pierce says the Legislature will “have to take a good, long look” if it has to front more money for the IRC.

Senator John McComish is the recipient of this year’s “Polly” Award, named after Arizona legend Polly Rosenbaum. Senator McComish received the award for his work in preserving Arizona’s history. The “Polly” recognizes elected or appointed officials who help to support the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Through key legislation the story of Arizona can be maintained and made available for future generations.

During the first session of the 50th Legislature, Senator McComish sponsored bills SB 1091 and SB 1123 to ensure the longevity of Arizona’s public records. Through his sponsorship of these bills, agencies in charge of the state’s history were better managed and given tools to expand their services.

Senator McComish was recognized on Arizona’s Centennial for his outstanding service to protect the state’s rich cultural institutions.

“Today the people of Yuma and Arizona mourn the death of seven U.S. Marines killed when two helicopters collided near Yuma. It is a sad reminder that our brave service men and women face risks every day, not only abroad but here at home.

Yuma is home to active military helicopter training, and those of us who live there see the copters overhead frequently. Today’s tragedy is a reminder that there is no such thing as a “routine” training mission.

Please take a moment today to pray for the family and friends of these seven Marines, and thank the men and women of our Armed Services for constantly protecting our freedom.”

Governor Brewer today signed SB 1046, a bill that allows companies that do business in multiple states to choose their corporate income tax formulas. For companies based in Arizona but providing services in other states, it will mean big savings.

“I appreciate the Governor’s signature on this bill, and I appreciate Senator Murphy for coming forward with SB 1046. This Legislature has been working hard to make the state more attractive to business, and this new law is a big part of that push,” says President Steve Pierce.

This bill has been a priority for the Apollo Group, the parent of University of Phoenix. Apollo is based in Phoenix and has 13,000 employees.

“A few years ago the legislature made a tax change to help manufacturers that export products.

This bill will now provide the same benefits to companies that don’t make products but instead offer services,” says President Pierce.

“The Senate and House today took a major step in the Legislature’s Constitutional duty to pass a budget for the State of Arizona. The Appropriations Committees in the Senate and House passed a budget that is structurally balanced, with no accounting gimmicks, no new borrowing and no agency fund sweeps.

The Legislature and Governor made tough decisions on the budget last year that many criticized. Now, we are seeing the benefits of making those difficult calls then, with a proposed budget that makes no new cuts, and puts Arizona in an outstanding position to come out of the worst economic downturn of our lifetime.

This budget also prepares us for the future, with $250 million in a rainy day fund. No longer will Arizona be caught off guard by an uncertain economic future. In FY ‘15, projections show a deficit of more than $600 million, and that is without the Governor’s additional spending proposals. We must remain conservative on our spending plans.

We also must begin cleaning up our debt problem. The Legislature proposes providing $200 million to start paying off the tremendous debt we have incurred.

We understand there will likely be changes to this budget before it is finalized. The Governor has indicated she is anxious to meet with leadership in the Legislature to discuss the numbers and provide further input. We are looking forward to those discussions to build the best financial framework for the people of our great state.”

Thursday the Arizona State Senate passed a bill that would eliminate city water fees and publicly fund the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Senators approved SB 1288 on a 30-0 vote and sent the bill to the House.

The Arizona Department of Water has had its budget cut for the past several years. Funding has been beefed up with water fees being imposed upon cities and towns.

“Due to 27% of the state’s population residing outside of a city or town, and many municipalities utilizing a private water resource, the fee has been unfairly distributed,” says Jack Hakim, the mayor of Bullhead City. SB 1288 would appropriate $6.3 million from the General Fund and repeal ADWR’s ability to collect a municipality fee.

Senator Gail Griffin, the sponsor of SB 1288, says ADWR has had to carry the burden of this unfunded mandate to cities and towns, causing serious budget strains for local communities.

While noting that every agency has had to endure cuts, Senator Griffin believes when a fee is imposed upon Arizonans for a natural resource that provides benefits to the entire state it then becomes a matter worth funding from the state General Fund.

“The State Senate takes the safety and well-being of Arizonans seriously. As part of this commitment, the Arizona State Senate today heard HB 2356 in the Committee on Public Safety and Human Services, in the Rules Committee, Republican and Democratic Caucuses, Committee of the Whole and Third Reading, where it passed in a 28-0 vote. The bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.

World-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman visited the Capitol today, to perform the National Anthem on the floor of the State Senate. Mr. Perlman played with the Southwest Stringers, a group of orchestra students from Entz and Hale Elementary Schools in Mesa. Governor Brewer joined the Senate for the performance, and led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

World-renowned violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman performed on the floor of the Arizona State Senate Tuesday as part of the Senate’s Statehood Day celebration.

Perlman performed the National Anthem with the Southwest Stringers, a group of orchestra students from Entz and Hale Elementary Schools in Mesa.

Sen. Ron Gould appeared on Channel 12’s “Sunday Square Off”. He talked about legislation that will allow guns on college campuses.

The Arizona State Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed SCR 1014, a resolution that calls for Congress to properly staff Arizona’s ports of entry. The vote was 28-1, and it now goes to the House for approval.

Appropriations Chairman Senator Don Shooter sat down with Ted Simons to talk about the state budget process.

State lawmakers’ attempts to force Pima County to turn over a sewer plant to Marana are getting more aggressive.

Senate President Steve Pierce has asked Gov. Jan Brewer to issue necessary permits the town has been unable to obtain on its own.