Fiscal Integrity and Responsibility
Consistency with Goals
Common Sense Decisions
Accountability to my Constituents
Must be in Arizona’s Best Interests
Posted: June 12th, 2011 under District 11.
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“No Child Left Behind becomes no child gets ahead,” said freshman state Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix.
by Eugene Scott – May. 4, 2012 09:05 AM
The Republic | azcentral.com
The best way to improve Arizona’s public schools is to allow them to be locally controlled, according to public-school leaders who spoke at an education roundtable.
U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle hosted the roundtable Wednesday morning at the Paradise Valley Unified School District offices in northeast Phoenix.
The freshman Republican congressman suggested the architects of No Child Left Behind Act failed to recognize the diversity of public education in America.
The 2001 legislation calls for measuring academic improvement by student performance on standardized tests.
“One of the problems I see is that too many people believe a one-size-fits-all model works,” Quayle said.
“I don’t think that works. In the beginning, I think there were good ideas, but I think there obviously are some major things that need to be addressed.”
The benchmarks that No Child Left Behind requires schools to meet have been impossible for some.
Kara Phillips, Arizona Department of Education director for cross-divisional initiatives, said 50 percent of schools did not make adequately yearly progress in 2006 and many people believe that all schools will fail to do so in 2014.
Implementing federal requirements at the local level is counterproductive, said Warren Whitney, a Madison Elementary School District governing board member.
“The more we can give the teachers in the classroom the freedom to do what they need to do, the better off we’ll be,” he said.
Focusing attention on improving the performance of low achievers has backfired, said Pam Kirby, a Scottsdale Unified School District board member.
“We’re consistently focused on our lower-level learners and our high-level learners are languishing,” she said.
“We’re losing them.”
While some students have improved significantly, others have not.
“No Child Left Behind becomes no child gets ahead,” said freshman state Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix.
Defining success by standardized test performance has changed parents’ expectations of schools, said Jim Lee, Paradise Valley district superintendent.
“We spend a lot of time in our district trying to educate parents that there is more to schools than the math and science test they take,” he said.
Test taking has become so synonymous with math and reading that some students have spent little time focusing on other topics, Lee said.
“I do worry about the next generation of graduates from high schools,” Lee said.
The issue of school district consolidation surfaced in a discussion about how money is spent.
“We have too much of our dollars tied up in the administration,” Kirby said.
Whitney agreed, but with reservations.
“I agree with the point that we have too many districts. Just don’t change mine,” he said.
Posted: May 8th, 2012 under Education.
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It was so great to meet with the young minds from the Valley Classical Christian Academy. 
We took a tour of the Capitol and they got the chance to see how our legislative processes work. Education is critical to the future of our state and it is so important to support our local schools.
Posted: May 2nd, 2012 under At The Capitol, Education, Events.
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Join me Monday, April 23, 8 a.m. at The Eye Opener Family Restaurant (524 W. Hatcher Road) in Phoenix, for our monthly meeting.
This month, we will be joined by Will Humble, Director for the Arizona Department of Health Services. Will has over 25 years of experience working in the public health sector and 20 years of that with ADHS. ADHS provides a wide array of health related services including Arizona’s behavioral and public health systems, Arizona State Hospital, medical and child care licensure and certified services, and the Arizona Public Health Laboratory.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Posted: April 14th, 2012 under Events.
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Can 1,185,461 people be wrong? State Rep. Russ Jones thinks so.
The Yuma Republican is determined to dismantle the state’s Growing Smarter fund, undaunted by the 2010 election in which nearly 1.2 million voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to use the money to balance the budget.
Voters, who created the fund in 1998, clearly want to use state money to keep sensitive lands from being developed. Jones doesn’t. (read the full article here)
Posted: April 1st, 2012 under Issues, Legislation.
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Today we celebrate 100 years of Arizona’s statehood. I am so proud to be a part of the State legislature and the Centennial celebration. Please join me today in honoring 100 years of history and display to the rest of the country and the world the wonders of Arizona.
Posted: February 14th, 2012 under Events.
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Sponsored and hosted by the Sunnyslope Village Alliance
See you then!
Posted: January 20th, 2012 under Events.
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It is a privilege to be a part of the Phoenix MLK day parade to honor Dr. Martin Luther King. Today, Arizonans honor Dr. King through service projects that strengthen our communities, empower individuals and bridge barriers. Join me in giving back through community service and honoring the memory of Dr. King.
Posted: January 16th, 2012 under Events, Misc., Recognition.
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Opening day at the legislature was inspiring.
"Thank you to my dear friends for their support on this exciting day!"
Improving Phoenix’s economic climate and streamlining government are my top priorities as we begin our legislative session. Feel free to contact me anytime at kbrophymcgee@azleg.gov. I was elected to represent you, so please let me know how I can help!
Posted: January 12th, 2012 under Uncategorized.
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I was recently featured in the WGA Magazine!
Click HERE to read my article.
Posted: December 20th, 2011 under Misc..
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Rep. Kate Brophy McGee
East Valley Tribune
December 12, 2011
With Arizona’s unemployment rate topping the national rate at 9 percent, any plan to boost the economy and get Americans back to work must be on the table — especially if it involves a sector proven to generate economic growth and provide high-paying jobs. United States mineral mining is a vital contribution to our economy and recovery from the recession.
In 2010, mineral mining contributed $2 trillion to the national gross domestic product and supported 1.1 million direct and indirect American jobs. Many of those jobs are right here in Arizona, which leads the country in copper production. Minerals also provide raw materials that builders, manufacturers and innovators transform into products and infrastructure on which we depend; examples include molybdenum that strengthens steel structures, lithium for batteries in hybrid autos and copper in solar energy technologies.
Our pathway out of the recession is being threatened by House Resolution 3446, a measure that would impose the world’s highest gross royalty tax on mining on federal lands — 12.5 percent. This new tax would result in higher mineral production costs, leading to Arizona and American job losses and an even greater dependence on foreign suppliers for minerals essential to virtually every sector of the economy.
U.S. mining is already obligated to navigate a duplicative permitting process that can delay projects up to 10 years. This new tax would be an added burden that will further impede U.S. mining’s ability to compete on a global scale, driving investment and mining jobs overseas. American manufacturing and construction would be forced to rely on higher levels of imported foreign raw materials. Keep in mind we are already at a disadvantage, as we import $5.1 billion worth of minerals — including those we are capable of producing, but do not.
Similar to our reliance on oil from unfriendly countries, measures such as this new tax leave us little choice but to depend on foreign countries, such as China and Venezuela, for mineral commodities.
Congress can choose a different approach that would lead to increased production of critical minerals, job creation and growth across the economy. Proposed legislation in Congress would require an in-depth evaluation of national mineral resources and raw-material needs. This legislation, leading to increased domestic minerals production, has already garnered bipartisan support in the House—including that of Reps. Ben Quayle and Paul Gosar, and support is building in the Senate.
The proposed legislation would also benefit our armed forces. Our military is one of our nation’s largest end-users of mineral-reliant products — equipment such as advanced aircraft, vehicle bodies, precision missile targeting systems and night vision goggles are some examples. A U.S. source would ensure our strategic autonomy in this arena.
Too much is at stake in our economic and national security to be derailed by a punitive tax. Call your members of Congress today. Tell them to oppose this new tax and support the legislation that will help domestic mining generate the jobs key to our economic recovery.
Rep. Kate Brophy McGee serves Arizona’s 11th district in the State Legislature and is Vice Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Posted: December 13th, 2011 under Economy, Issues.
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