June 18, 2010

In this issue

·         Some questions for candidates

·         Resources for candidate debates

·         PAFCO Principles

SOME QUESTIONS FOR GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES

·        What do you believe is government’s role, specifically state government’s role, in funding for health and human services for vulnerable children, families and adults?  What are the key values that will guide you in your decision making and voting about government’s role, if elected?

·        What is your assessment of the recent cutbacks in funding for critical health and human services safety net programs, enrollment caps in areas like child care and health care?  Should some or all these budget cutbacks be restored?  How would you restore these cuts?

·        What do you think of current tax structure? Should it be reformed to provide for stability, economic development and adequate revenues for health and human services?  What is your view of the current tax exemptions and personal and corporate income taxes?  Would you propose to do tax reform if elected and if so how would you go about it?

·        What do you think government’s role should be in addressing poverty, hunger, homelessness, health care, and family violence and providing a safety net for families?  How would you approach these social and health concerns if elected?

SOME PAFCO PRINCIPLES (From 2010 PAFCO Legislative Principles Statement)

Government actions must provide a safety net for families.  The need for health and human services now reaches into the middle class more than ever; they are losing jobs, housing and suffering economic dislocation because of depth and breadth of the recession.  Yet while demand is increasing, agencies are taking severe cuts.

New revenues are necessary and revenue sources must be strengthened. Tax cuts must be rejected.  All options including closing tax exemption loopholes while expanding the sales tax base and improving the progressivity of the income tax must be considered.  Arizona needs tax reformto create a fair, equitable and adequate tax base to enable government to carry out its responsibilities for the common good.  PAFCO opposes any raid on voter protected funds dedicated to health and human services, education and other areas related to quality of life.

Arizona’s non profits and health and human services providers are significant contributors to the Arizona economy.  Arizona’s public policy is to provide essential human and health services through the private sector of non-profits and for profit agencies.   Arizona’s non profits and health and human services agencies employ thousands of taxpaying citizens, spend into the economy and support lots of small business and vendors who provide special services to the hundreds of non profit businesses.

The measure of a humane society is how it treats its most vulnerable members particularly at their time of critical need.   Government actions in partnership with community based organizations and faith communities can be a source of hope, support and resilience for families.  Health and human services must not be pitted against one another.  The private non profit and faith based sectors cannot make up for government’s responsibility.  

 DO SOMETHING --- BUILD ELECTORAL POWER - It All Makes a Difference and Adds Up – PAFCO allies are significant large community groups.  And the nonprofit sector is large. If taken to scale even the smallest measures we take to encourage people to register to vote and vote on Election Day will add up. Whether you help ten people vote or a hundred people vote, it adds up. http://www.nonprofitvote.org/ 

ELECTION YEAR RESOURCES – GO TO PAFCO WEBSITE AT www.pafcoalition.org . Resources include election year dos and don’ts for non profits--- http://www.pafcoalition.org/nonprofits-elections/

Campaign to End the Child Care Subsidy Turn-Away List – Take Action! View Video too!!!