Lawmakers lend support for more child-care funds

State Senate President Tim Bee, R-Tucson, said he supports both programs and is optimistic there will be some money for them in the final state budget, still in early negotiations.

Bee, a fiscal conservative, said Friday that child-care subsidies for low-income families and stipends for grandparents and other relatives who take over the care of neglected or abused children save the state money in the long run.

"When relatives are able to take in children who at least temporarily cannot be taken care of by their parents, that saves the state a tremendous amount of money" by keeping the children out of the state's Child Protective Services system, Bee said.

But relatives — particularly grandparents who are retired and living on fixed incomes — can be hard-pressed to meet the costs of clothing, feeding and providing health care for a child, Bee said.

Jessie and George Hethering- ton of Tucson adopted their grandson, now 9, in December 2005, after their daughter's legal rights to the boy were severed completely.

The couple, married for 41 years, had to tap into their retirement funds to pay attorneys' fees and other costs of bringing their grandson to live with them. To make ends meet, George, 67, has gone back to work as a driver for VanTran, the city's van service for the handicapped.

Since the stipends became available in October, the Hetheringtons have received $75 a month to help with their added expenses.

"Would I do it again? Absolutely. In a heartbeat," Jessie Hetherington said Saturday. "Would my husband? In a heartbeat. This is our grandchild and he's not going into the system."

Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor, D-Phoenix, is leading the push for $2 million for the stipend program, which started with a one-time, $1 million appropriation from the state last year. Bee said legislators are likely to approve another $1 million instead of the proposed increase.

"Our revenues have grown this year but at a much slower pace than in the last two years," he said, "but I'm optimistic at this point."

Bee said he wants to increase child-care subsidies this year, even though the Legislature and Gov. Janet Napolitano agreed to increase them last July 1, the first increase since 1998. But the increases were based on child-care programs' 2000 costs and were significantly lower in Pima County than in other parts of the state.

Many Pima County programs received no increase, while others got as little as 9 cents and up to $1 more per child per day. But in Maricopa County, all child-care rates went up July 1, some as much as $1.40 per child per day.

At the same time, the cost of child care in Arizona has climbed 35 percent over the past six years, the state Department of Economic Security, which administers the subsidies, reported in January. The gap has forced many child-care directors to raise the copays they charge parents who qualify for the subsidies.

Rep. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson, has asked for a $35 million increase in the subsidies, while Sen. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, is seeking an additional $15 million.

Bee told Tucson child-care advocates in January that there was little chance of increasing subsidies again this year, but on Friday he sounded more hopeful.

"Those of us from Pima County are working very hard to keep this on the table," he said. "The governor did not include that (increase for child- care subsidies) in her budget recommendations, but we are hoping to get at least some dollars in there, particularly for Pima County."

Bruce Liggett, executive director of the Arizona Child Care Association, called Bee's support "very positive."

"It's apparent that the Senate president fully understands what the needs are," Liggett said. "It's clear to me he's listening to his constituents."

Maricopa County conservatives are more likely to oppose any increases to the child-care subsidies or the grandparents' stipends, Bee said.

"There will be opposition from members who are more concerned about the overall growth in spending and whether or not the government should be involved in the business of child care," he said.

House GOP spokesman Barrett Marson said slower growth in state revenues will force lawmakers to prioritize.

"You have to look first at the needs and then the wants," Marson said. "Education, health care, corrections, roads — those are the needs and we will have to make sure those are properly funded before we move on to other issues."

Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, said Friday he isn't sure how he will vote on either proposal, although he leans in favor of the grandparents' stipend program because it saves the state money that would otherwise go to foster care.

"I personally believe that families should take care of their own, but that doesn't happen in America anymore," Harper said.

But moderate Rep. Pete Hershberger, R-Tucson, said he and other legislators who deal with children's issues are "a little more optimistic" this year than last.

Although revenue growth for state government could amount to $200 million this year, Hershberger said, "There isn't that much money this year because of the tax cuts we gave last year. But both sides are acknowledging the revenue may be more than originally projected."

And with Bee wanting to increase subsidies and continue the stipends, "he's the big dog, and that's really important for our chances," Hershberger said.

If you go

Two rallies are scheduled this week at the Capitol in Phoenix. You can also contact state senators and representatives toll- free at 1-800-352-8404.

• Child-care advocates will rally at the Legislature, 1700 W. Adams St. in Phoenix, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. The rally will include meet-ings with legislators.

• About 500 grandparents and advocates are expected to attend a "Grand Family Rally" from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Wednesday at the State Senate Build-ing, 1700 W. Adams St., in Phoe-nix. The rally will include lunch and visits with legislators.