On Monday, Gov. Jan Brewer set off an avalanche of Democratic discontent by vetoing legislation inspired by a student at Tempe’s McClintock High School that would encourage student volunteering.
“The reasons provided by the governor for her veto are not only invalid, they are disingenuous,” wrote Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, D-Tempe, in a news release. “There is more to this story than the governor’s office is willing to admit.”
SB 1066 was a bill that would create a special commendation for high school students who complete more than 200 hours of community service. It passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan approval, earning only three “nays” from the House.
The governor’s veto letter said that while she encouraged students to volunteer in honor of the state’s centennial, she felt that in SB 1066 “one branch of government is obligating another branch of government to do something it can already do — the bill is unnecessary.”
Brewer’s letter went on to say that by requiring the governor to issue these community service commendations, the legislation infringes on the separation of powers established by the Arizona Constitution.
Schapira disagreed with that logic.
“It doesn’t infringe on separation of powers because then every piece of legislation would infringe on the separation of powers,” he said.
The bill was sponsored by Schapira after Jevin Hodge, a McClintock senior and co-chair of the Governor’s Youth Council, met with him to discuss an idea to further high school students’ participation in community service.
“This is what happens when you have a governor that is hyper-partisan,” Schapira said.
The first year that Hodge was on the Youth Commission, there was only one chair, Hodge said. In his second year, they brought back the co-chair.
“In face, the governor is so partisan that when her staff learned their selection of Hodge as chair of the Youth Commission is a Democrat, they ordered the unprecedented creation of a commission co-chair,” Schapira wrote in a press release.
But the legislation has nothing to do with partisanship, both Hodge and Schapira said.
“I think it does two things,” Hodge said. “First, I hope that it will increase the number of hours of youth volunteering.”
Some students who already have community service hours might be encouraged to complete more if they have an incentive, Hodge said.
“And second, I hope it eliminates the negative stereotype of ‘community service,’” he said. “The first thing people ask when they hear you’re doing community service is, ‘What did you do wrong?’”
Hodge, who completes numerous hours of volunteering hours each week, said that achieving 200 hours could be done relatively easily in one school year.
“If you volunteer one hour every day, five days a week for a school year, you’ll have an excess of hours for this commendation,” he said.
With such broad appeal, the bill may come back next legislative session, if someone else is willing to sponsor it. Schapira will not be able to reintroduce it himself; he is running for Congress.
“It’s a really good policy that was broadly supported,” Schapira said. “It doesn’t just make a difference now; it will pay dividends for future generations on and on.”
While he is disappointed, Hodge hopes that there might be other ways to get legislation through.
“I would love to sit down with Gov. Brewer to talk and craft together a piece of legislation that would recognize students for their community service, and not as a punishment or a class,” Hodge said.
The governor was unavailable for additional comment.
The Governor’s Youth Commission originally began as a commission on substance abuse prevention in 1989, but has expanded over the years to include other youth-related concerns, such as volunteerism, service learning, leadership and civic engagement, according to the governor’s website.
Contact writer: (480) 898-5645 or sspring@evtrib.com
Lily posted at 4:11 pm on Sat, May 19, 2012.
[smile]
samkat posted at 7:22 pm on Sat, May 19, 2012.
It wasn't sponsored by one of the flat earth religious right republicans so it was not worthy of her signature.
spyderdog posted at 2:46 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
encouraging people to help other people is totally against az peckerwood jesus clown values ......... jesus wouldnt have stood for it either
SethCold posted at 7:21 am on Sun, May 20, 2012.
I don't believe that just because he was a democrat that is why the governor vetoed it. Jesus has nothing to do with choices. Why not get those who are studying for this arena go volunteer and make a mandate to do so, hands on learning. Jesus wants us to put our hands to the plow. Make these grown people go and take a whole semester at a handicap school. I did this for 2 years. Loved it.
mlimberg posted at 1:10 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Why would we need the Government of any type involved in Community Service? How about the people served doing something for those that do Community Serivce?
Brain dead Democrats.... they think the Government needs to wipe the rears of all People....
It's unreal.
I have many years of Community Service and can't see a place or a reason for having any Government agency doing anything for me? I'm rewarded by the smile and handshake or hugs of those I help?
Do Demos have issues with not getting any affection as children or something?
chuckles3 posted at 3:49 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Like most things legislators do, a waste of time and money.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:00 pm on Sun, May 20, 2012.
Wait a minute...........are these young people volunteering to "help" people or volunteering to get an Official Arizona Commendation Document for their College/University Acceptance Committee.
"Good Works" need no "Special Governor's Commendation Certificate"....just the fact that you helped out another human being is ..........."commendation" in and by itself.
"Charity" is the greatest of all virtues because it comes from the "heart".
"Charity" isn't some act to be "quantified" for a young person's High School Record by a ............piece of paper.
One should not ...."volunteer"....if they think that it is a ........"quid pro quo" act.....I scratch your back and you give me a Special Governor's Certificate so I can get...."brownie points".....on my College/University Application.
I didn't know that this was a "Democrat Party" Bill until I read it hear........stupid me.....it sure ........"smells"....like a Democrat Party Bill........[wink]