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October 27, 2000/28 Tammuz 5760, Vol. 53, No.5
Propositions will influence quality of life
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
Arizonans have the power Nov. 7 to determine who will get health benefits, whether funding for public education will be increased and whether all public school classes will be taught in English.
These are among the issues addressed by 14 ballot propositions facing voters in the Nov. 7 general election.
Propositions 200 and 204 are competing measures of how to spend tobacco settlement money - an estimated $110 million a year for the next 25 years. The proposition drawing the most votes will be enacted.
Prop. 200 requires that 100 percent of the tobacco money and 70 percent of revenues from the state tax on tobacco products be placed in the "Healthy Children, Healthy Families" fund to provide services for 17 separate programs.
Prop. 204 funds the "Healthy Arizona Initiative," approved by voters in 1996. It directs all tobacco funds to cover health-care programs. The majority of this money would pay for health insurance to the working poor who make 100 percent of the federal poverty level, which for a family of four is $16,700 or less.
Currently in Arizona, only those with income of up to 33 percent of the poverty level are eligible for government-funded health insurance.
"Prop. 200 is going to result in a guaranteed improvement of the health and well being of Arizona families and children," said Carol Kamin, executive director of the Children's Action Alliance.
She added it will provide insurance for at least 40,000 parents, provide "end of life," - hospice-type care - outreach for children's education and funding for prenatal care and immunization to ensure children entering first grade are healthy and ready to learn.
"Prop. 204 is the best way to make an impact on the uninsured people of the state," said Rep. Laura Knaperek (R - Tempe), adding that it covers more people than Prop. 200. "It was overwhelmingly approved (in 1996)," she said, and now needs to be funded.
Prop. 301 would raise the state sales tax from 5 percent to 5.6 percent on the dollar. It is estimated that $440 million will be raised for fiscal year 2002; the money would increase funding for public schools, K-12 and higher.
"301 is going to inject needed funds into the education system," said Farrel Quinlan, spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.
Funds generated by Prop. 301 would also cover revenue bonding for the $70 million budget for Students First, Quinlan explained, a program to improve the quality of schools to a minimum level.
Michelle Alhmer, executive director of the Arizona Retailers Association, is skeptical about Prop. 301. It is tied to sales tax, the most volatile tax, she said. When the economy turns, retail sales are the first hit, she added, which could force government officials to find alternative sources for school funding.
Prop. 203 would require all public school instruction to be done in English. Students not fluent in English would go through an intensive one-year immersion program.
"Most nations in the industrial west teach two to four languages," said Paul Yzaguirre, president of the national council of La Raza. "In the United States, there is an aversion to anything other than English."
Speaking more than one language is a plus, said Rabbi Robert Kravitz, executive director of the American Jewish Committee area office. In Arizona, students who took bilingual classes scored higher on English reading classes than students in English-only programs, he added.
Margaret Garcia Dugan, principal of Glendale High School, disagreed.
"Bilingual education has been ineffective for 30 years now," said Garcia Dugan. "Students are not exiting bilingual, but mono-lingual." And the language is not English, she added.
She said when these students leave the school system, "their chances of economic opportunity are slim to none."
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