Today is July 30, 2010
Rae Waters On The Issues
Education
Making a strong investment in education today lays the foundation for a strong, prosperous Arizona tomorrow. In my first term, I worked on bipartisan education reform to bring our schools into the 21st century, as well as blocked bills that would have cut more than $300 million from our K-12 schools. I also introduced legislation to make school buildings safer and prevent dangers like the roof collapses that occurred at three Valley schools in 2009.
Quality education is both a moral and an economic issue: our children deserve access to the best schooling and training available, and a well-educated population is an important part of attracting businesses and jobs to Arizona. As your representative, I will continue working to protect local schools and ensure our children are ready and well-trained to become working adults.
Education is the currency that will buy Arizona's future success, and we must not falter in our duty to invest in that currency.
Economy
No one in Arizona has been hit harder by the current recession than hard-working families, children, and small businesses. That's why my first term was spent working to keep those most affected afloat as we weather this fiscal storm.
In my first two years at the capitol I introduced legislation to protect homeowners victimized by mortgage fraud from facing unjust foreclosure, as well as championed bills to stabilize property values and get the construction industry back on track. I also fought against needless cuts to the educational system that prepares our children for the complex work of tomorrow.
More broadly, I proudly supported legislation that brought solar power manufacturing jobs to the Valley. The bill, which was signed into law January 2010, will create high-quality job opportunities, allow mutually beneficial partnerships with state universities, and signal to other companies in this growing industry that Arizona intends to be a major player in the high-tech and renewable energy game.
I also advocated for common-sense, bipartisan solutions to Arizona's budget challenges that didn't make harmful and unnecessary cuts to critical programs and services, instead encouraging the state to close corporate tax loopholes that help those that need it the least and take hard looks at programs that could operate at higher efficiency. I will continue seeking intelligent, mindful budgeting as our state works to get back in the black in these down times.
By protecting our children's education, stabilizing the jobs and housing markets, and pledging to work cooperatively and intelligently to solve our budget setbacks, I have no doubt we can bring Arizona out of this economic crisis stronger than it was before.
Public Safety
A state government's first and foremost duty is to protect the safety and rights of citizens from those who would undermine either. I take this maxim seriously, and my track record as your state representative bears that out.
I strongly opposed efforts to turn our state prisons over to for-profit corporations, and fought hard against attempts to end the state's juvenile corrections program. I believe we need to stay fully aware of who's in charge of our most dangerous criminals, as well as ensure our youths do not fall fully from any chance to become productive members of society.
I also sponsored legislation aimed at keeping distracted drivers off our roads, and helped prevent drastic cuts to the Department of Public Safety that would have hampered its officers' abilities to provide courteous vigilance for our highways. Keeping our transportation routes efficient has been a high priority in my first term, and curbing tragic, avoidable accidents is a goal we must never lose sight of.
If honored with a return to the Arizona State Legislature, I will continue working to keep our communities, streets, and state the safe places we all want to live, work, and raise our families.
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