Click on the video to watch educators from Sierra Vista to Marana testify about their support for Gabrielle.
Educators for Giffords is just one example of the growing enthusiasm for Gabrielle’s work standing up for Southern Arizona. She is a champion for math and science education, fighting to make sure our students have the skills they need to compete in a global economy.
Today, as support for Gabrielle Giffords continues to build, Giffords for Congress released Educators for Giffords, a web video featuring teachers and educators from Sierra Vista to Marana testifying about their support for Gabrielle.
Go to www.giffordsforcongress.com to watch Educators for Giffords.
Educators for Giffords is just one example of the growing enthusiasm for Gabrielle’s work standing up for Southern Arizona. She is a champion for math and science education, fighting to make sure our students have the skills they need to compete in a global economy. And with volunteers knocking on hundreds of doors and making thousands of calls, the Cactus Roots campaign is stronger than ever.
Gabrielle Giffords gets it!
Gabrielle Giffords is a third generation Southern Arizonan and the only military spouse in Congress. Gabrielle is not like other politicians. She’s voted against a Congressional pay raise every time one has come up, and she doesn’t make earmark requests for campaign contributors. She takes an independent view on the issues and was rated Arizona’s most moderate member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009. Most importantly, Gabrielle stands up for Southern Arizona by working across the aisle to secure the border, protect our servicemen and veterans and create jobs by investing in solar energy.
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San Pedro Valley News-Sun – Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thelma Grimes
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, D-District 8, remains busy, working with President Barrack Obama to cut government spending, and announcing millions in funding for Arizona education.
It has been a busy time for Congress as budget talks continue, the debate over a new Supreme Court nomination looks to be lengthy, and the District 8 congresswoman is joining President Obama in several initiatives.
Giffords joined the president in supporting legislation to restore fiscal discipline for the federal government.
The congresswoman praised President Obama for supporting legislation that will require any new mandatory government spending to be matched with budget cuts.
“The federal government needs to do what most American families do,” Giffords said. “We need to restrain spending, pay our bills and live within our means.”
The legislation will reinstate pay-as-you-go rules. Known as PAYGO, these requirements are to offset spending increases that were in place in the 1990s. They were instrumental in allowing the federal government to balance its books and achieve a $128 billion budget surplus.
“Our country faces a $1.8 trillion budget deficit,” Giffords said. “If we do not begin paying our bills, we will short-change our children and grandchildren by saddling them with higher taxes and cutting federal investments in education, health care and national security.”
Giffords said PAYGO is a clear indication of the president’s commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability to government over the long-term.
Giffords is a current member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally responsible members of Congress who have worked for years to require the federal government to spend within its means.
While Giffords supports legislation to push elected officials to be more fiscally responsible, she was pleased recently to announce that Arizona will benefit from the stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year.
Arizona is set to receive $681 million in economic recovery funds, which will save teachers’ jobs and lay the foundation for a generation education reform.
Arizona continually ranked in the bottom when it comes to education funding, and with the state facing a more than $3 billion this year, public schools looked to be taking another hit. Schools are still expecting between 6 and 8 percent decreases.
According to U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan, the recovery funds represent the largest boost in education funding in recent history.
In order for Arizona to receive the funds, state officials had to provide assurances that it will collect, publish, analyze and act on information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps and interventions in turning around underperforming schools.
The Arizona Department of Education is also required to report the number of jobs saved through the recovery funding.
Giffords has also stayed true to her campaign promise to make herself more accessible to the public, recently hosting the 17th ‘Congress on your Corner’ session in Vail.
At the events, Giffords takes time to hear directly from her constituents.
There are no sessions currently scheduled in Cochise County.
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