It is LEGISLATIVE BLAST DAY!!!!!

It is LEGISLATIVE BLAST DAY!!! Today I request that you help target the School Aid Sub-Committee Members! We need to let them know that their plan to shift dollars from K-12 Education in favor of a $1.6 Billion TAX BREAK FOR BUSINESSES is unacceptable. If they get 800 emails in one day, I would hope they would pay attention!

Please use your home emails: Copy and paste the letter below (yes, it is long....you are more than welcome to modify or write your own!), and send it to the committee members I have listed at the bottom of this post!

Dear Michigan House Representative,

I have become aware of your position as a member of the Appropriations Committee sub-committee, School Aid.

One of my biggest concerns at this time is the proposed raid on the State School Aid Fund. There is sufficient money in the fund to give K-12 education adequate funding, if not even an increase in funding. To cut K-12 funding and to give it to community colleges and other schools of higher ed is draconian.

First, the colleges have the ability to raise revenue in other ways, while K-12 schools do not. Secondly, schools in the K-12 arena, especially Walled Lake (my local school), are down to their last dollar - literally. The cuts they will have to make will undo all of the fine programs we have in place; like interventions for students who need extra help and the exemplary curriculum work that happens here and makes our schools some of the best in the state. This is just the beginning! Between proposed loss of revenues and increased costs, Walled Lake is looking at $24 million in cuts before next year.

Even if the teachers took a 10% pay cut, it would only save a little over $7 million. This is less than a third of the money Walled Lake is looking to cut. You are literally creating a deficit district with your School Aid Fund policy if it is carried out.

Most disgusting to me is that the true reason for making these cuts to education is to free up General Fund dollars so our state government can give a $1.8 BILLION dollar tax break to businesses. This is unfathomable to me. How can a multi-billion dollar tax break for businesses be more important than a quality education for all children?

Most importantly, by making this cut in education by shifting funds out of the School Aid Fund, you are totally violating the wishes of those who voted for the initiation of Proposal A in the 1990’s. It was a decision of the electorate and should be respected as such. The most important function of a state government is to insure that schools are funded to do the best job possible.

I implore you to NOT shift funds for K-12 Education to the General Fund. Use the money in that fund in the way the electorate intended……funding K-12 Education.

Here are the addresses to use! Depending on your computer, you might be able to just click on the email address, or copy and paste the address to your email!

1) Rep. Bill Rogers (R) – Chair - Brighton

billrogers@house.mi.gov

2) Rep. Phil Potvin (R) - Cadillac

philpotvin@house.mi.gov

3) Rep. Earl Poleski (R) - Jackson

earlpoleski@house.mi.gov

4) Rep. Jon Bumstead (R)- Newago

jonbumstead@house.mi.gov

5) Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton – Vice Chair – Huntington Woods

ellenlipton@house.mi.gov

6) Rep. Jim Ananich – (D) – Flint

jimananich@house.mi.gov

RALLY on Wednesday or Legislative BLAST Day!

Tomorrow is Wednesday, April 13th, and there is a RALLY in Lansing at the State Capitol! There is a later speaker's schedule to accomodate those who can travel to Lansing after work!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 -
We ARE the People - Defend the Middle Class Rally
-- -----Let the politicians know that WE ARE THE PEOPLE, and it's time to start protecting the middle class - not the CEO's

Where: State Capitol Building, Lansing
When: Protest and Legislative Action from 1 to 6:30 pm

**Speaking programs AT 2 pm **Second Speaking programs at 5:30 pm

Click Here for the FLYER

If you can not make the rally, be ready to make April 13th "LEGISLATIVE BLAST" DAY!!!
----Return to this site tomorrow to get information to email the representatives in our State Legislature!
----Just imagine our representatives get 800 emails at once, ALL from WALLED LAKE!

Judge Rules 3% Health Care Deduction Unconstitutional!

Yesterday Michigan Court of Claims Judge James Giddings ruled that because current teachers aren't guaranteed health care benefits when they retire, asking them to pay 3% of their pay is "arbitrary and capricious". He also went on to say that the State Legislature was unconsitutionally seizing "property" (aka, our wages)without due process.

The state is expected to appeal the ruling and as of Monday night, it was still unclear what would happen in terms of the payments that have already been taken from teacher pay. Due to a court injuntion, the payments were being held in escrow until a decision was made regarding the legality of the law. It is expected that the money will remain in escrow while the appeals process is being followed. It is not clear at this time whether the payments will continue to be deducted in the future.

This is definitely a bit of good news for teachers.

However, the rhetoric has begun in Lansing with some officials claiming they will now need to charge the schools MORE $$$ to cover retiree costs. This really is a total falsehood, as the funds deducted by the state from employee checks has NOT been going toward retiree health care at all. It has been held, as previously mentioned, in escrow pending court decisions. Earlier the state had already announced that they were charging school districts 4% more for retirement costs, bringing the total charged to schools about 24%. Again, they are just laying blame to teachers for this increase.

The Michigan Legislature has gone on VACATION for the next two weeks, but it is NOT time for us to let down our guard!

Our FOES have spent years putting out a message to the public that has been ANTI- Union, ANTI-teacher, and ANTI-democracy. It has taken them years. They are taking funds that belong to K-12 Education, putting it into the General Fund and giving $2 Billion dollars in tax breaks to business!

We need to start getting our WORD out there as well. Sometimes all that takes is having our BODIES where they can be seen and letting someone else do the messaging.

For all of you who will still be in town, here are TWO easy-to-get-to, easy-to-do ways to show your feelings about the legislative attacks on educational funding and bargaining rights. It is no accident that they are taking place on the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death.

First Event:(I’m going here!)

IN ANN ARBOR WHERE GOVERNOR SNYDER LIVES!!!!

Monday, April 4th

The NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION Rally

Where: University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor!

*****At Ingalls Mall - Ingalls Mall is by the Bell Tower, near Rackham Hall and Hill Auditorium.

*****On Washington Street between State and Fletcher

When: Noon to 1 PM

Why:

1) To affirm Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision on the anniversary of his assassination

2) To honor his support of LABOR

3) To protest the current assaults on democratic rights and bargaining rights

Who: Local MEA affiliates, Local police and fire, AFSCME, Teamsters, WEIU,

Second Event:(I’m going here, too!)

IN WEST BLOOMFIELD at the high school!

Monday, April 4th

The NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION Candle Light Rally!

Where: West Bloomfield High School Parking Lot

When: 8 PM to 9 PM (begin arriving at 7:30)

Why:

1) To affirm Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision on the anniversary of his assassination

2) To protest the current assaults on education and WBEA

Who: All Region 7 MEA affiliates are invited

Bring: A Flashlight or Candle