Monsignor Raúl Trevizo, Vicar General of the Diocese and Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church on the southside, GED grad George Jackson and Betty Stauffer from Literacy Connects, CSDP board member Randy Serraglio, JobPath participant David Lee, Frank Thompson of the Pima County Housing Commission and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias all spoke passionately about the opportunity this bond presents. George Jackson told a moving story about his own literacy journey and of the thousands of others in our community who need a helping hand. Msgr. Raul reminded the Bond Committee that PCIC’s 30 institutional members and allies represent 40,000 potential voters with have great interest in the Bond .
On Thursday, Gov. Brewer, 14 Republicans and all the Democrats in the legislature passed a budget that included Medicaid Expansion. It will also increase funding for education by 82 million – the first increase, albeit small, in 5 years. Read about it here: House approves medicaid expansion
PCIC leaders met with local legislators here and at the legislators and worked with sister organizations in the Arizona Interfaith Network to help build a consensus for Medicaid Expansion. 800 VIP leaders hosted Brewer and Republican leaders at an action in Paradise Valley on June 2nd, and PCIC got commitments from Rep. Ethan Orr (R-9) and Sen. Steve Farley (D-9) at Health Care Civic Academies in Tucson. Over 300,000 low-income Arizonans will now be eligible to receive health care insurance.