Today is LEGISLATIVE BLAST Day!!!

WE MUST CONTACT the State SENATE's K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee!

Last night MIRS (Michigan Independent Research Service) reported that the Michigan Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee has proposed a $340 per-pupil cut in funding. Although this is $130 less than Governor Snyder’s proposal, it is devastating to schools nonetheless.

They claim they want to “mitigate” more extensive cuts to K-12 education. Yet, to fund this lesser cut, they have proposed several other cuts; i.e., half-day kindergartens would no longer be funded at the full foundation rate. Another proposal was to more extensively cut funding for categorical spending. Overall, this is still a funding decrease for schools. REMEMBER, the funding in the K-12 School Fund could provide MORE than enough funding for schools EXCEPT the State’s intention is to raid the fund to send money to the General Fund

Howard Walker (R-Traverse City) is the chairperson of the Senate’s K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. When questioned by the MIRS service yesterday, he wouldn’t talk about details his committee was looking at. He did say he wanted to, “shore up funding for local school districts and provide for SOME categoricals". How does he plan to do this? He STILL plans to RAID THE State’s K-12 FUND, but to provide relief to school districts by placing a hard cap on health care costs. At this time, he is talking about legislation that REQUIRES all public employees to pay for 20 percent of their health care costs!

NOW, YOU ARE PERSONALLY PAYING for $1.6 billion tax cut FOR BUSINESSES!

We need to tell the Senate that shared sacrifice does NOT mean state employees paying for tax cuts for businesses, to the tune of $1.6 billion dollars.

We need to tell the Senate that the people of Michigan voted long ago to support schools with funds in the K-12 School Aid Fund and that their desire (and any of us who voted in those days) to fully fund schools should not be supplanted by any legislative group who wishes to do so. Schools could be adequately funded with the money available!

Today, PLEASE BLAST The Senate K-12 Appropriations Committee Members. 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 Senator,

I have become aware of your position as a member of the K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee in the Michigan Senate.

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.

The most outrageous piece 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 $1.6 BILLION dollar tax break to businesses. This is unfathomable. 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!

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

Feedback from your email BLASTS!!!

Feedback is being received from Legislators! Here is some good news!!!!!

SENATOR MIKE KOWALL -
This morning I called Sen. Kowall's office right at 8AM, and his office manager/legislative aide said he would have Sen. Kowall call me first thing! And he did! I had a very interesting conversation with Sen. Kowall and I was quite pleased with what I heard.

Sen. Kowall told me that his daughter is a teacher in Waterford and that he is 100% with “us” (educators). When he made this reference he was speaking specifically about the legislation in the House that proposes to move $900 million dollars from the School Aid Fund to the General Fund. I told him that I had been urging the teachers of Walled Lake to write him because we aren’t being greedy; the loss of funding to Walled Lake will significantly affect education here, even if we take steep cuts in pay. He said he knew that; he had spoken to superintendents AND his daughter called him regularly about this issue! He reiterated that he is not an advocate of the shifting of revenues.

On the legislation regarding 20% copays on insurance: Sen. Kowall said that he abstained on this bill (actually I believe he entered as “present”, which is abstaining). He explained that 2 minutes before the committee voted on the bill, a supplemental bill was added. That gave him NO time to read it and he wants to , “know what is in it before I vote. I educate myself.” He reiterated that he doesn’t just vote “party lines”; he educates himself and knows he has to come home to face people......and his daughter. His big concern now is Economic Development and getting people "back to work". He is traveling around the state to work toward this end.

I invited him to come to Walled Lake to meet with a group of WLEA members. He said he would be glad to come and listen and explain the problems before Michigan. He wants to know if we have solutions other than what has been considered. He will be traveling to work on the Economic Development goals he has during this week, but said he would have his aide call me to set up a meeting. In the meantime, he says he has an open-door-policy, and we are welcomed to come to Lansing.


REPRESENTATIVE JIM ANANICH – Flint, and a member of the Appropriations Sub-committee, School Aid.

I have heard from many members who sent a “blast” to Representative Ananich and have received very encouraging emails back from him. In fact, after reading his replies, I think I REALLY like this guy.

I will share some of the information from one of his letters to a member:
“Thank you for your dedication to standing up for Michigan’s students. As a former teacher myself, I am fully committed to doing everything I can to oppose these devastating cuts to our schools. We must remain focused on helping educators give the best possible training to our children so that they can compete for good jobs of the future. In fact, I support a recent proposal to secure in Michigan’s Constitution, protections for K-12 funding, so that we keep the promise of Proposal A and prevent politicians from diverting education dollars to fill other budget gaps.”

This is an excellent proposal and is also supported by our local House representative, Lisa Brown!

Jim Ananich has a Facebook page!
www.facebook.com/jimananich

If you are on Facebook, “friend” him! Spread the word to your colleagues, friends and the community!

Rep. Ananich is participating in and hosting a series of Education Task force meetings around the state and in Genesee County, and is asking residents to, “provide their own testimony about how these misguided cuts would hurt our communities.” These are his next few meetings, if you or friends are in the area:

Tuesday, April 19 - Warren Woods High School, Warren - 4:30 pm
Wednesday, April 20 - Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall, Flushing – 6 pm
Monday, April 25 - Bendle High School, Burton - 7 pm
Tuesday, April 26 - Northern High School, Flint - 7 pm
Monday, May 2 - TBD, Ann Arbor - 7 pm

Two pieces of legislation are moving QUICKLY!

In an effort to keep you informed, I would like to give you a legislative update. As expected the legislature is moving VERY quickly on bills that dampen your collective bargaining voice AND ON YOUR PAY AND BENEFITS.

1) The Republican-led Senate committee approved Senate Bill 7 and SJR C legislation Wednesday to require all public employees pay 20 percent of the cost of their health insurance.

The Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee passed Senate Bill 7 on party-line votes, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats dissenting. This vote occurred as 4500 people protested outside the doors of the Capitol building!

The legislation does not treat local units of government fairly. For example, local municipalities could opt out of the requirements with a two-thirds vote of their governing body; this exemption does not apply to public or intermediate school districts, community colleges, or universities.

The measures now head to the full Senate.

THERE WILL BE A LEGISLATIVE BLAST DAY ON MONDAY!!!!!!

2) HOUSE BILL 4059 - Prohibit public employer contracts that pay union officials for time conducting union business. This makes “PAID RELEASE TIME” funded by a school district illegal.

This bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 59 – 47 yesterday. It is now being sent to the Michigan Senate. MIRS News Service reported that the debate over this legislation was “hot”.

The effect of this bill is that full time release presidents like myself would be illegal unless the salary was paid for by union dues. In addition, any union representation, whether for personnel matters, contractual matters, or for bargaining teams, for example, would be illegal as well, unless paid for by union dues.

The MEA’s response is:
The Talking Points:

This is a Local Control Issue
It sends a clear message that the state knows better than local departments how to run their operations. Who knows the operation better than the people who run it?

This is Misguided Policy
Employers are not forced to these provisions. Employers agree to this practice because they realize that problems can be handled quickly and not be allowed to worsen by inaction. Addressing issues of employees is part of resolving issues within our buildings and districts. The result can be better employer relations, process improvements, a safer worksite and improvements in quality.

This Bill will not Save Money
Not dealing with problems can lead to loss of productivity and quality. This practice would not go into effect until a new agreement is reached and the practice is not state-wide. Some locations have this provision, while others don’t. The reason for this is because it is agreed to locally on an as needed basis.

This will not Create Jobs
There is a lot of talk about job creation, yet the bills being introduced like this one do not support that claim. This is another anti-union, anti-worker piece of legislation and an abuse of legislative power.

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