ABEC 2023 November Membership Meeting
2024 Legislative Session Preview
Rebecca Beebe, Government Affairs Specialist, Public Policy Partners, and Courtney Coolidge, Vice President of Government Affairs, AZ Chamber of Commerce & Industry, provided excellent and thorough overviews, respectively, of the upcoming Legislative Session and 2024 ballot measures. Courtney’s slide deck is available here.
Scroll down for key thoughts from the panelists.
Joanna Allhands
Digital Opinions Editor
The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com
Joanna noted that we all wear many hats and we bring the multiplicity of those perspectives to our efforts in finding solutions.
Paul Tighe Ed.D.
Executive Director
Arizona School Administrators
Paul boldly said at one point, "Dare I mention…” Well, you needed to be there to know what he dared to mention!
Heather Carter Ed.D.
Executive Vice President
Greater Phoenix Leadership
Heather highlighted that we all must work (towards solutions) in the reality of the current political climate. We must be realistic about the political climate and what is possible.
John Pedicone Ph.D.
Director of Education Policy
Southern Arizona Leadership Council
John emphasized the role and value of ABEC as a non-partisan in building bridges when defining a problem, finding common ground and solutions amidst a highly charged political climate.
The Honorable Ken Bennett
Education Committee Chair
Arizona State Senate
Senator Bennett mentioned the difficulty in finding consensus even within political groups, seemingly like-minded cohorts.
The Honorable Mitzi Epstein
Minority Leader
Arizona State Senate
Senator Epstein stands on the principle that every solution is better when it is developed with a wide range of perspectives at the table.
The Honorable Jennifer Pawlik
Ranking Member Education Committee
Arizona State House of Representatives
Representative Pawlik mentioned the value of continuing the dialogue of Business & Education with legislators as has occurred at ABEC's Legislator Luncheons.
Rebecca Beebe, Government Affairs Specialist, Public Policy Partners, and Courtney Coolidge, Vice President of Government Affairs, AZ Chamber of Commerce & Industry, provided excellent and thorough overviews, respectively, of the upcoming Legislative Session and 2024 ballot measures. Courtney’s slide deck is available here.
Rebecca Beebe
Government Relations Specialist
Public Policy Partners
Courtney Coolidge
Vice President of Government Affairs
Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry