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“What I've come to learn is that the world is never saved in grand messianic gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion, everyday acts of compassion.

In South Africa they have a phrase called ubuntu. Ubuntu comes out of a philosophy that says, the only way for me to be human is for you to reflect my humanity back at me. ”

- Chris Abani, Nigerian-born American author

This Week At The Legislature

The Capitol had minimal activity with both chambers in recess. I participated in a Joint Legislative Oversight Committee meeting to examine the systemic failures that led to the tragic death of Emily Pike, an Indigenous teenager who went missing from a group home and later found murdered. The hearing brought together state lawmakers, tribal leaders, law enforcement, and the Department of Child Safety to hear testimony and begin identifying solutions.

Too often, gaps in communication and jurisdiction create devastating consequences. My hope is this oversight committee can look closely at how federal, state, and tribal systems can better coordinate to strengthen collaboration and increase accountability to ensure that what happened to Emily is never repeated. This is about more than a single case, as my colleague Senator Hatathlie expressed, it is about building systems that truly serve every child in our state.

Fair warning: the rest of this newsletter is full of numbers, and not the good kind. But stick with me, they matter.

Across-the-Board Cuts Hit All

The Trump administration’s proposed federal budget slashes funding across nearly every department—except for Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. While Defense sees a 13.4% increase and Homeland Security jumps a staggering 64.9%, agencies that serve families, workers, students, and communities face deep cuts:
* Health and Human Services: -26.2%
* Education: -15.3%
* Labor: -34.9%
* Housing and Urban Development: -43.6%
* Agriculture: -18.3%
* Interior (which oversees tribal, water, and land programs): -30.5%

Remember that federal funds makes up roughly 44% of our states general funding. These cuts don’t just hit numbers on a spreadsheet, they hit people all around us. Rural areas and tribal communities stand to lose the most, with reductions to housing support, workforce development, public health grants, and education programs that many depend on for basic stability.

This President’s budget doesn’t reflect shared sacrifice, and it won’t just be “belt tightening” as a Republican colleague of mine referred to it as; it reflects a shift in priorities that leaves Arizonans significantly behind.

*Note that these numbers don’t include the billions in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
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Austerity for Us, Tax Breaks for Them

I often say that Arizona reflects the issues and tone set at the federal level, and sometimes the other way around. We share many of the same challenges, as well as the paths that lead us there. Lately, I’m seeing striking similarities not just in our budgets, but in the reasoning used to justify them. Arizona’s current budget crisis didn’t happen by accident. Just like Trump’s proposed federal budget—cutting vital services to offset massive tax breaks for the wealthy—our state is living with the consequences of reckless, top-heavy fiscal policy.

Going back to 2021, then-Governor Ducey passed a flat tax that disproportionately benefited the wealthy and gutted hundreds of millions in state revenue. And we anticipated this would strain our budget in exactly the way it's unfolding today. Serious concerns were raised with financial predictions showing that the tax cut would cost Arizona $2 billion a year in lost revenue. In its first full year, it cost $700 million more than expected, leaving a major hole in the state’s budget. That’s a big reason Arizona is now facing a $1.7 billion budget shortfall, on track to face a record deficit of over $2.3 billion by 2027. We knew a flat tax would leave us without enough revenue to pay our bills, and it has done exactly that.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy calculated that if we had our prior tax system before the flat tax, Arizona would have at least $2.6 billion more in revenues. As we are faced with cuts, and squabbling over a few million here and there to fund vital services in the budget, it is mind blowing to think that we could be sitting financially secure with enough funds to pay the entirety of our obligations, completely fund the childcare waitlist annually, have money leftover to help improve infrastructure and lives, AND a bigger buffer against the current economic turmoil.

Meanwhile, ESA voucher spending has exploded, draining dollars away from budget at an alarming rate:
* School Superintendent Tom Horne just requested a supplemental $194,934,291 to make up for the shortfall in ESA vouchers, adding to the prior total of $469,559,700 needed above the estimated growth.
* He outlined that ESA voucher funding is expected to rise from $714 million in FY2024 to $873 million in FY2025—a $159 million jump in just one year.

The same pattern is playing out at the federal level. Trump’s 2017 tax cuts were sold as a way to grow the economy—but even his own White House analysis admitted they would never pay for themselves. So, what does this mean?

With the 2017 tax cut extensions on the line, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation ([link removed]) , by 2029, Americans earning less than $30,000 a year will actually pay more in taxes under the GOP plan—while the wealthiest households get even richer. The poorest Americans, making under $15,000, would see their tax rates increase by 53%, while millionaires would get a 6.4% tax cut, totaling $74 billion in savings for the top 1%.

And that’s before factoring in other giveaways: estate tax rollbacks, cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and the cost of tariffs that hit working families hardest. Analysts at the Penn Wharton Budget Model found that by 2026, many Americans earning less than $51,000 would actually see a drop in after-tax income under this plan. Add to that, Trump is proposing a federal private school voucher program that has a $5 billion - $10 billion annual price tag, with no clarity as to how it will be funded. See the similarities here?

In reality, those tax cuts never "trickle down." They’re trickling back up—funded by cuts to everyone else’s services. Trump’s $163 billion in cuts to housing, health care, education, and clean energy are programs that working families depend on, and they don’t even come close to paying the price tag of the tax cuts.

This all leaves me wondering, how can pushing tax cuts that benefit only the top 1% be seen as a smart long-term financial strategy? Our economy relies on people improving their financial standing, starting businesses, growing families, improving mobility, and spending in their communities. When most are left worse off, the entire economy suffers and eventually, everyone loses.

This isn’t fiscal responsibility. It’s a transfer of wealth—taking from schools, seniors, and struggling families to bankroll tax breaks and perks for the rich. And whether it’s in Arizona or in Washington, the pattern is the same: the people always end up paying for it.

State budget negotiations continue to happen this week, so if you have or concerns or questions seeing some of these numbers, please reach out.

With Kindness,

Sarah


** Community Corner
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Friendly House CEO Avein Saaty-Tafoya, Rep. Liguori, Jimmy McCain, Anna Tovar, Nicole Bidwell, Frank Lomeli, Ansari’s, Meghan Cox, Sharon Harper, Francis Najafi

This week, I had the honor of serving as the honorary co-chair for a truly meaningful event celebrating the work of Friendly House. Founded in 1920 to support immigrants and underserved families, Friendly House now operates more than 60 programs focused on education, workforce development, immigration and citizenship services, and family support. Their legacy is woven into the fabric of Arizona’s history, and their impact continues to grow with each generation they empower.

The evening was a celebration of service, leadership, and dedication to community. We recognized outstanding individuals who are leading with courage and compassion:
* Frank Lomeli, Principal, Academia Del Pueblo
* Nicole Bidwill, for her equine therapy programs she runs in partnership with Friendly House students
* Anna Tovar, a powerhouse in energy policy and government leadership
* Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, a new but already remarkable force for Arizona in Washington
* Cindy McCain, who’s son Jimmy accepted the award as she is on the front lines in Ukraine

It was a powerful reminder that investing in people and uplifting families creates a ripple effect that can transform lives for generations to come, just like the longevity of the work of Friendly House.

Friendly House CEO Avein Saaty-Tafoya and Mayor Gallego address the crowd
Friendly House ([link removed])

Schools Out For Summer

It’s so important for kids to stay engaged during the summer, intellectually, physically, and socially. And for parents, it can be hard to find options that fit working schedules and our wallets. Fortunately, when school is out, summer camp is in! The City of Phoenix and YMCA have great options for summer day camps.

City of Phoenix has great programs for sports, swimming, and theatre. Check it out here! ([link removed])

YMCA Summer Day Camp ([link removed]) offers a structured and engaging program for children including sports, arts and crafts, and nature exploration

Local Eats
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I recently caught up with the owner of Window coffee bar, who remembered my campaign event I hosted at their original location three years ago. Since then, they have expanded to two other locations in LD 5, with a Tempe space opening this year.

They pride themselves on knowing their customers and fostering a sense of community, which is evident in the numerous gatherings of groups and smiling faces you will see there on any given day. The food is great, the vibes are great, and the Camelback location even has an easy drive thru. Drop by on your next caffeine run!


** Upcoming Events
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Coronado Neighborhood is turning 100 years old! Come celebrate with neighbors on May 30. There will also be live music by Young Sounds at the Musician's Union which is FREE for you enjoy. See details here ([link removed]) .

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Boom Boom Room on McDowell and 16th Street is hosting another executive networking social May 22nd. It’s a great chance to connect with the Phoenix Business community!

Arizona Athletes

It was exciting to watch an Arizona team go far in college football this year. Congratulations to runningback Cam Skattebo on getting drafted to the New York Giants NFL team. Cam is a student athlete at our own Arizona State University who’s gained national attention from his college football career. He is fun to watch and I wish him well in the next step of his football career.

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