The Arizona Legislature adjourned in March with a plan to return yesterday (April 14). Now there is no definite date of return. Meanwhile, the State is struggling. There is a Rainy Day Fund with over $1 Billion available. So far in this tsunami, the legislature has tapped only $55 million and allocated all of that to the state’s health department. The crisis needs further action and the legislature should get back to work NOW.
Below is all the contact information you need and four suggested scripts for the week.
Get the Legislature back to work! The House has already approved Remote voting. The Senate can quickly do the same. Contact Fann and Our Legislators
“My name is __________ I live in ____________, zip code _________. I’m calling to urge that the legislature be called back into session ASAP. They, and they alone, can deal with a number of critical issues that need to be addressed in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some examples of issues needing attention include:
- property tax timing relief
- clarification of unemployment insurance criteria and payments
- aid to county governments
We need and deserve prompt and focused attention by our representatives in this dire time. Thank you for your time and attention.”
Order a statewide all mail-in ballot capability for the August Primary and the November Election — Contact the Governor and All Legislators
“My name is __________I live in _____________, zip code _________. I’m calling to urge the Legislature to support the effort by Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and county recorders to send an “early ballot” application (or even an early ballot itself) to EVERY registered voter who is not already on the “permanent early voting list” (PEVL). The 2020 elections MUST be held and this is one way to do it. The mail-in process is very familiar to our state electorate and is a proven safe and effective way to exercise our right to vote. The COVID-19 situation makes this temporary adjustment necessary because of the danger that physical, in-person voting may pose to our citizens. This option will allow a fair and representative voting process to occur. I urge you to support and champion this effort. Thank you for your time and attention.”
Allocate PPE and COVID-19 Test Kits based on Case Severity vs. Population — Contact the Governor on this one
“My name is __________I live in _____________, zip code _________. I’m calling to urge you to order the distribution of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and COVID-19 Test Kits to those counties with the greatest concentration of cases on a per capita basis. As of 4/13/20 Navajo County has 345 cases of Covid19 which is a rate of 317 per 100,000 population. Coconino County has 253 cases or a rate of 180 cases per 100,000 population. In comparison, Maricopa county, our largest population center, has 2020 cases but only a per capita rate of 47 per 100,000. (These statistics are per the New York Times database as of 4/13/20). Obviously, Navajo and Coconino counties have a significantly greater need for these resources in Arizona. I strongly urge you to order this alternate method for distributing scarce and urgently needed resources as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and attention.”
Use money from the Arizona Rainy Day Fund to alleviate COVID-19 hardships
“My name is __________I live in _____________, zip code _________. I’m calling to urge you, Governor Ducey, to allocate a substantial portion of the $1 Billion in the “Rainy Day Fund” to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Please urge the Legislature to return to session ASAP and allocate some of that money for emergency housing, food assistance, and medical supplies. It is true that revenues will likely be down because of the recession that’s following the pandemic; nonetheless, there is more than enough to help Arizonans now. Thank you for your time and attention.”
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