Commercial promotes troubled early childhood program

[SargeUNN]

For the first time in its three-year history, the First Things First organization is running TV ads promoting what it does.

But the executive director of the state agency said the decision to spend more than $600,000 in tax dollars for the commercials has nothing to do with the fact that voters will decide in November whether to keep the program alive. Rhiann Allvin said state law makes "public information about the importance of early childhood development and health'' one of the goals for the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, the formal name for the state agency.

And the timing? Allvin said it is unrelated to the fact that lawmakers voted earlier this year to put the existence of First Things Vote on the ballot.

"I, obviously, had no control over the legislators' choices to put us on the ballot,'' she said. "There is nothing political about this public awareness campaign.''

The 30-second commercial, featuring images of children, starts out, "They raise their hands because someone held theirs.'' It says children smile because someone was happy to help and children say "I can'' because someone said they could.

read more http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/education/article_603c0730-acb7-11df-b92e-001cc4c03286.html

[Monique1]

1. Vote No

on Prop 302 in November - this is about our children. If you don't have children, it is still about children and allowing all children a future.

I worked in Early Childhood for over 24 years, this is sad that the legislatures want to take money away from children.

[jillan]

2. That's great that they will be airing these.

It's so sad how the Repugs want to keep Az at the bottom in education and healthcare, and then wonder why they can't bring businesses to our state. They are idiots and I hope change comes to our state in November.