Perhaps you have all seen the Free Press Editorial from yesterday in which the paper glorifies what they call, “15 courageous House Democrats”. They are glorifying them because these 16 Democrats joined forces with the Republican to adopt legislation requiring Michigan teachers to pay a greater percentage of their pension and health costs – THIS IS THE 3% “TAX” you have to pay beginning next school year!
I would like to say, that I do not find these legislators courageous for targeting your bargained pay as a resource for them to solve Michigan’s financial problems. To me courageous would have been standing up and saying that Michigan needed to find ways to solve the financial dilemmas without making teachers shoulder the cost. Courageous would have been legislating an end to their FULL Health care perks after only 6 years of service. Courageous would have been requiring themselves to pay a 3% tax to work. Courageous would have been going to the people of Michigan and saying we need new funding sources.
These Legislators are:
Dan Scripps, Tim Melton, Kathy Angerer, John Espinoza
Marc Corriveau, Dudley Spade, Bob Constan, Martin Griffin
Joel Sheltrown, Jim Slezak, Bert Johnson, Ed Clemente
Andy Dillon, Judy Nerat, Pam Byrnes, David Nathan
HERE IS MY FEAR –
1) These same “courageous people” will vote with the Repbulicans to use the anticpated increased funds in the School Aide Fund, NOT TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE SCHOOLS, but will “rob” the School Aide Fund to shore up the General Fund. This will leave schools in the same miserable funding mess that they have been in this year.
2) These same “courageous people” will vote to send the Constitutional Amendment to the people of Michigan to lower your wages by an ADDITIONAL 5%. This amendment could realistically appear on the August, 2010 primary ballot! This would mean that the entire state of Michigan could vote on your bargained pay!
YOU NEED TO WRITE YOUR SENATORS AND LEGISLATORS . Write the Legislators listed above as well!
Also, consider attending the MEA Rally in Lansing on June 24th!
REMEMBER – Please do this from your home emails or from your home or cell phones.
For any legislator in Michigan, use this weblink:http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state
AREA LEGISLATORS
Governor Jennifer Granholm
Phone 517-335-6863
Faxto write Gov. Granholm, please go to the Michigan.gov website
Speaker of the House - Andy Dillon
Phone: 517-373-0857
Fax: 517-373-5976
E-mail: andydillon@house.mi.gov
Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop
Phone: 517-373-2417
Fax: 517-373-2694
E-mail: senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov
State Senator Nancy Cassis
Phone: 517-373-1758
Fax: 517-373-0938
senncassis@senate.michigan.gov
State Senator Gilda Jacobs
Phone: 517-373-7888
Fax: 517-373- 2983
SenGJacobs@senate.michigan.gov
State Representative Vicki Barnett
Phone: 517-373-1793
Fax: 517-373-8501
vickibarnett@house.mi.gov
State Representative Lisa Brown
Phone: 517-373-1799
Fax: 517-373-8361
lisabrown@house.mi.gov
State Representative Hugh Crawford
Phone: 517-373-0827
Fax: 517-373-5873
hughcrawford@house.mi.gov
State Representative Eileen Kowall
Phone: 517-373-2616
Fax: 517-373-5843
eileenkowall@house.mi.gov
MEA
About Me
- Tfitzjake
- I wrote this introduction 6 years ago, and it is even more important today than ever. The voices of educational employees need to be heard above the roar of public school attacks in this country. We are on the front line; we are highly educated and trained professionals. Why are we being ignored? I am an educator. I was the president of the Walled Lake Education Association for over 6 years, and before that, the treasurer for 8 years. I have been on the bargaining team for 15 years. I am now the MEA UniServ Director for 7K and parts of IJ. I want our voice to be heard! Today's educational climate requires that we all stay informed regarding the issues affecting our chosen profession!