Governor Recommends Cutting CTE Funds

Long before I became a candidate, I had been saying to people, "The state leadership is proposing band-aids to our economic situation without regard for the future of Arizona." The latest proposal from Governor Brewer perfectly exemplifies this problem.

Take, for instance, her recommendation to eliminate Career and Technical Education (CTE) funds. Schools use this money for classes that prepare a skilled labor force, which, of course, is what industries need and expect.

CTE is not your father's shop class. Today's schools offer a wide spectrum of specialized classes, such as those in business education, including marketing and accounting; biotechnology; computer skills, including programming, repair, and business usages; and computer-aided design for engineering and architecture -- as well as 21st century skills in auto repair, welding, manufacturing, and culinary arts. These classes build the workforce that is a critical element in attracting businesses to Arizona. They also are challenging training grounds for our young people, adding significant value to their academic experience and making them more employable.

Cutting the state funds for these programs typifies the expression "cutting off your nose to spite your face." We need these classes to prepare our students for their future and the future of Arizona. What's more, we lose $2 from the federal government for every $1 we cut from state funds for CTE. Eliminating these funds would be one more nail in the coffin of building a sustainable economy in our state.

Business and jobs go where the schools are good. Without Career and Technical Education, our schools fall farther behind those in other states with whom we compete. Band-aids won't work when the patient is in intensive care. We need a vision for the future of Arizona that also guides how we make decisions now -- and that is why I am running for state legislature.