From the Capitol

February 2009

Legislature begins tough job

The first session of Arizona’s 49th Legislature officially
is underway and already lawmakers are addressing difficult
challenges, including eliminating one of the largest budget
deficits the state has ever seen.
House Democrats have been working hard in a bipartisan
way to protect children and middle class families from deep
cuts to education and health care. Unnecessary cuts to ed-
ucation and health care, recently passed in the Republican
budget, will soon present difficult hurdles for our children’s
future and the future vitality of our state.

House Dems offer smart solutions

House Democrats have offered alternative and responsible Patricia Fleming
budget solutions to the 2009 shortfall and will continue to Representative
offer reasonable options for 2010. These alternatives protect District 25
our state’s education system and middle-class families. They
are common sense, prudent and practical options to get the “Now, more
economy back on track and move the state forward on the than ever, is the
road to recovery. time to protect educa-
tion and health care so
New addition that we pave the road
to economic recovery
House Democrats welcomed Anna Tovar, the former vice and ensure the future
mayor of Tolleson, on Feb. 3 to serve as the new District 13 economic vitality of
representative. Arizona.”
Tovar, a life-long resident of Tolleson and former teacher,
has been the vice mayor of Tolleson since June 2007. The
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Tovar to
fill the District 13 House seat vacancy left by former Rep.
Steve Gallardo. Tovar is the first woman from Tolleson to
represent District 13.