From MIRS (Michigan Independent Research Service –
HB 4361 – The budget bill in the Senate – MIRS reports that there are 17 committed "yes" votes and three undecideds who are leaning that way. Please be sure to write your senator!
See the post below for email addresses and a sample letter.
NEWS FROM THE MEA CAPITOL COMMENTS – Not such great news…..
Lawmakers on Thursday are expected to vote on separate proposals that strip local school districts of big decisions related to health care costs and privatization.
MEA staff and leaders will be at the Capitol Thursday to lobby against these bills -- and your legislative contacts are vital to our efforts to derail or modify these bills.
Here's what you need to know about the proposals:
Senate Bill 7 would require employees to pay at least 20 percent of the cost of their health plan. This bill strips local school boards of the authority to decide how best to manage health care costs, something that should be decided locally through collective bargaining.
This bill is before the full Senate.
Act now: Contact your state senator immediately to ask him/her to vote NO on Senate Bill 7.
WRITE or CALL YOUR SENATOR TODAY! (Please use your cell phones and home emails!)
HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO SAY…..
Dear Senator –
I would like to urge you to vote NO on Senate Bill 7. Local school districts should have the right to decide how to best manage their health care costs. The collective bargaining in our district has always resulted in savings to our district on health care. We want to retain our rights to make these determinations at the local level.
People to write:
State Senator Mike Kowall R-White Lake Twp, 517-373-1758
SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Howard Walker, R - Grand Traverse - Chair
SenHWalker@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. John Pappageorge, R – Troy
SenJPappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Bruce Caswell, R - Hillsdale - Vice Chair
SenBCaswell@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Hoon Yung Hopgood, D - Taylor - Minority Vice Chair
SenHHopgood@senate.michigan.gov
OR CLICK BELOW TO GO TO THE MEA Legislation Action Center for other Senators!
MEA LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER
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!