This is a letter that a member forwarded to me that was written by Ellen Cogen Lipton - Democratic House Representative for Huntington Woods. It is a far different letter than the one below that was received from Hugh Crawford, Republican from Wixom/South Lyon.
Thank you for contacting my office and I appreciate your thoughts regarding the proposed budget and tax plans currently making their way through the legislature. Let me start by apologizing for the delay in responding to you. The concerns of my constituents are of utmost importance. Please be assured that I share your concerns, and will continue fighting against these most devastating budget and tax plan. This budget is a disaster, and its consequences will be felt for years to come, if allowed to become law.
Our state needs an economic plan to bring back jobs… instead we get a massive giveaway to business with no accountability and no guarantee of a single job. We get a 1,000 page budget bill that no one can hope to understand before voting on it. We get budgets that end proven job-producing programs like the Film Credits, and end funding for business incubators that help entrepreneurs set up shop and grow, and eliminate $25 million for recruiting new businesses to our state.
Furthermore, we get budgets that no longer require state departments to report to the Legislature on much of their activity, so there are no checks and balances and oversight is greatly reduced as to how our taxpayer dollars are spent. And at the last minute, instead of department-by-department budgets – which is how budgets are traditionally approved – House Republicans have pushed through one bill that funds all of state government and one bill that funds all public education in Michigan.
And now that the General Fund budget is being rolled into one huge bill, House Democrats have again not been consulted on the format or content, and the one hard-fought Democratic amendment that did win approval earlier in the process is being stripped out of the budget. In total, we offered 123 amendments. That's 123 opportunities to protect our children's education, seniors and families. Instead, Republicans delivered 123 rejections that will hurt Michigan.
Regarding the School Aid Fund, the House-passed budget slashed $1.1 billion in K-12 funding. These are cuts of at least $426 per student with some school districts being hit with cuts as large as $1,558 per student. When school aid cuts were first proposed in January, we were looking at a $650 million positive fund balance. Just last week, that number was updated to an almost $900 million surplus. Overall, the newly announced "budget deal" that slightly lessens the blow to our children is barely any better than the initial proposal.
As I traveled this entire state attending rallies, education forums and town hall meetings, I met with thousands of our residents who consistently said one thing…"Don't cut our schools." A recent survey by Michigan State University's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research found that the majority of people did not want lawmakers to cut education funding. By an overwhelming margin, respondents chose education funding (53 percent) as the last place to cut versus the next closest response (economic development at 17 percent).
This is not an economic plan; this is a handout to corporate special interests and CEO's.
This budget is full of difficult cuts that are contrary to the message the Governor gave at his inaugural, contrary to his local government message, and contrary to the message he just delivered regarding education.
The Republican tax plan that was forced through the House takes Michigan in the wrong direction. This new tax structure for our state does not represent the “shared sacrifice” that the Governor promised. Instead, it balances the budget on the backs of our children, our seniors and our working families – all to pay for an 82 percent tax break for corporations, with no guarantee of new jobs. And if this new tax structure takes effect, the residents of Michigan will NOT be able to repeal it, because the Republicans have again included a token expenditure [$100] that strips Michigan voters of their constitutional rights.
It is clear the House Republicans don't have any interest in making this a fair economic plan that will help Michigan rebound. It is also clear they don't care about accountability and transparency in state government – two things they previously trumpeted as critical to the process. I want you to know that even at this late juncture, I'm still committed to working in a bipartisan manner and finding compromise where we can to pass a fair and balanced budget. I hope my colleagues and the Snyder administration will join me so that we can find solutions that work for the people of Michigan.
Again, thank you for contacting my office with your thoughts and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in the future about this or any other concerns you may have.
Sincerely,
Ellen
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Letter Received from Republican, Rep. Crawford
This letter was received by a WLEA member in reply to their request to Representative Hugh Crawford (Rep. - Wixom)to adequately fund education.
Since the start of the new legislature, many changes have been proposed, debated and voted on. This week, we will reach the goal Governor Snyder and the legislature has set: establishing our state budget before June 1st. With upwards of 20 budgets discussed, conference committees have been formed and are currently continuing the discussion pertaining to the proposed adjustments to budgeting for every state department. I must say that the education funding has been discussed the most. I have read all the e-mails received, listened to all messages and as a member of the House Education Committee, I have been privileged to hear testimony on all of these issues.
Our state can no longer support the operating expenses our local school districts are incurring, nor can our tax dollars support the uncontrollable healthcare and retirement expenses. This year the House of Representatives has proposed legislation that modifies and enhances the current system.
I have said from the beginning that I do not believe in transferring the School Aid Fund from K-12 to higher education. I have three 20J schools in my district and they have been hit the hardest in recent years with the cuts that have been made. With that being said, I do agree with the direction that Governor Snyder is proposing our state take. For too long, the taxpayers have been funding retirement and healthcare costs while programs are cut on a yearly basis, additional fees are placed on the students and their parents, and the "last-in" teachers are the first pink slipped. Many school districts have been forced into situations where at most, only 20% of their funding can be utilized in the classrooms because over 80% of their operating costs are salary and benefits for employees.
I voted no to HB 4325 that concerned the SAF transfer. However, the bill passed the House and the transfer of funds will be implemented in the new budget. The main issue now is coming to a compromise on the proposed budgets and allotting as much money that the House can reasonably ask of our state with several other state departments receiving cuts in the double digits including Higher Education's cut of roughly 15%. When the unanticipated tax return amount was confirmed on May 16th, over half of this money was placed into the K-12 fund. Governor Snyder is assigning a great deal of control to the local school districts in how they chose to fund their schools. The tax return money placed in K-12 funding has diminished the cut to a less than 2%, and less than a $100 per pupil cut with the stipulation that school districts must implement 4 of the 5 best practices outlined in the bill. These include having a 90/10 premium share for employee health benefits, providing that the district act as the policy holder for health insurance policies, having the district enter into consolidation plans, obtaining competitive bids on at least one non-instructional service, and making a public dashboard with financial indicators.
I support our children. I support providing our children with the highest level of education that can be provided. I support giving our children a promising future. Please know that I have taken your thoughts into consideration throughout this 6 month process and if no changes are made to the current proposed budget compromises with regard to education funding, I plan on voting yes.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
Hugh D. Crawford
Since the start of the new legislature, many changes have been proposed, debated and voted on. This week, we will reach the goal Governor Snyder and the legislature has set: establishing our state budget before June 1st. With upwards of 20 budgets discussed, conference committees have been formed and are currently continuing the discussion pertaining to the proposed adjustments to budgeting for every state department. I must say that the education funding has been discussed the most. I have read all the e-mails received, listened to all messages and as a member of the House Education Committee, I have been privileged to hear testimony on all of these issues.
Our state can no longer support the operating expenses our local school districts are incurring, nor can our tax dollars support the uncontrollable healthcare and retirement expenses. This year the House of Representatives has proposed legislation that modifies and enhances the current system.
I have said from the beginning that I do not believe in transferring the School Aid Fund from K-12 to higher education. I have three 20J schools in my district and they have been hit the hardest in recent years with the cuts that have been made. With that being said, I do agree with the direction that Governor Snyder is proposing our state take. For too long, the taxpayers have been funding retirement and healthcare costs while programs are cut on a yearly basis, additional fees are placed on the students and their parents, and the "last-in" teachers are the first pink slipped. Many school districts have been forced into situations where at most, only 20% of their funding can be utilized in the classrooms because over 80% of their operating costs are salary and benefits for employees.
I voted no to HB 4325 that concerned the SAF transfer. However, the bill passed the House and the transfer of funds will be implemented in the new budget. The main issue now is coming to a compromise on the proposed budgets and allotting as much money that the House can reasonably ask of our state with several other state departments receiving cuts in the double digits including Higher Education's cut of roughly 15%. When the unanticipated tax return amount was confirmed on May 16th, over half of this money was placed into the K-12 fund. Governor Snyder is assigning a great deal of control to the local school districts in how they chose to fund their schools. The tax return money placed in K-12 funding has diminished the cut to a less than 2%, and less than a $100 per pupil cut with the stipulation that school districts must implement 4 of the 5 best practices outlined in the bill. These include having a 90/10 premium share for employee health benefits, providing that the district act as the policy holder for health insurance policies, having the district enter into consolidation plans, obtaining competitive bids on at least one non-instructional service, and making a public dashboard with financial indicators.
I support our children. I support providing our children with the highest level of education that can be provided. I support giving our children a promising future. Please know that I have taken your thoughts into consideration throughout this 6 month process and if no changes are made to the current proposed budget compromises with regard to education funding, I plan on voting yes.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns.
Sincerely,
Hugh D. Crawford
Report on State School Funding from the MEA Economist
The report included below is what was received yesterday from the MEA’s Economist, Ruth Beier. THIS IS NOT good news! Several of you have sent letters to me today that you have received from legislators describing the same scenario. This is not good news. It means that to gain the extra funding available, school districts will have to jump through "hoops", not so accurately named, "best practices.
In summary, the budget agreed upon puts into place almost the entire $470 per pupil reduction as originally proposed weeks ago. This bill does allow schools to earn a $100 payment by meeting 4 of 5 “best practices” (Ruth outlines them in her report). The bill does give schools another $100 which they now require schools to use that toward retirement obligations and NOTHING else.
Please read this report from Ruth.
The School Aid Act Conference Committee completed its conference report. The bill now goes back to both houses for approval and then to the Governor. Either house can make changes, but that is not likely (according to Ruth Beier, MEA Economist). The Governor could veto all or some of the bill
Summary of State Aid Act as approved by the Conference Committee (SB 183 C-1)
1) Eliminates declining enrollment categorical, retains 3-year pupil count averaging language for small, rural districts.
2) Changes blended count to 10/90
3) Only get full time FTE for Kindergarten if student attends full day, beginning in 2012-13
4) Reduces foundation allowance by $470 per pupil.
5) Gives districts $100 per pupil for best practices, which means meeting 4 OF 5 of the following (not all 5)
a. Employee pays at least 10% of insurance premium
b. District is policy holder of the insurance policy
c. Adopt a service consolidation plan if not already.
d. Obtain competitive bids for 1 non instructional service that costs more than $50k
e. Puts more data on a "dashboard" that the public can see (MEAP, Fund Balance, other
6) Appropriates $155 million statewide to districts based each district's portion of total statewide payroll. This money is to be used to defray cost of MPSERS. This averages to $100 per pupil, but varies.
7) Eliminates Bilingual categorical
8) Creates a MPSERS Reserve fund in the School Aid Fund-- similar to reserve a portion of the School Aid Fund balance. The Act does not say what this money is to be used for.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A BUSY WEEKEND supporting Educators and Educational Funding!
The Grade In at 12 Oaks on Sunday
Thank you to all the educators who spent some of this weekend's sunny weather to show the public what 
educators truly care about! We care about 
the education of children! We are professionals 
who involve ourselves in practices that improve education through our work on evaluating, planning, and collaborating with our fellow educators! To continue our great work, we need to be sure that our public schools are funded properly!
educators truly care about! We care about 
the education of children! We are professionals 
who involve ourselves in practices that improve education through our work on evaluating, planning, and collaborating with our fellow educators! To continue our great work, we need to be sure that our public schools are funded properly!MEA Rally on the Capitol Lawn on Saturday!
Thank you to all who came to Lansing on Saturday to show their supp
ort for educational funding and for teachers being able to continue to have a voice in the decisions made about their profession and their lives.
ort for educational funding and for teachers being able to continue to have a voice in the decisions made about their profession and their lives. All pictures have been posted the WLEA - Walled Lake Education Association Facebook page!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Could be some good news!
Today Gov. Rick SNYDER, Senate Majority Leader Randy RICHARDVILLE (R-Monroe) and House Speaker Jase BOLGER (R-Marshall) met to craft a budget deal that used about $700 million of what they called “one time money”.
With today’s deal, school per pupil cuts will only be an additional $99 on top of the $170 dollar cut carried over from last year. This $170 per pupil figure is money that was replaced with one time Federal money this past school year. The State refuses to be responsible for making up that piece of per pupil funding. With the $99 and $170 loss of per pupil funding, the total loss of school funding this year will “only be” $269 per student.
Gov. Rick SNYDER had proposed cutting schools by $470-per-pupil as part of his original '12 budget recommendation. $310 million is being put back into the K-12 school budget as part of the agreement announced today. $150 million will be given out on a per-pupil basis to districts that demonstrate "best practices”. While not definitively spelled out, it is suggested that it would include schools creating a "dashboard," bidding out non-instructional services and looking at employee benefit reforms. At this time, it appears that the Appropriations Committee will be allowed to spell out these “best practices”. However, this is a phrase Governor Snyder has used often when speaking of his plans for education. Will privatized instructional services and employee benefit reforms really be a “best practice” in educational reform?
The remaining $160 million must be used to help districts cover their retirement costs. This could be significant for all school districts because of the original 4% increase, to a total of 24% of salary the schools were to be required to pay toward employee retirement costs. How this is applied to retirement costs will need to be seen.
House Representatives Lisa Brown and Ellen Cogen Lipton were not impressed, releasing the following statement, “Our state can — and should — invest more in our schools, our children and our communities. We must also continue to stand strong against the Governor and Republicans who are forcing our children to foot the bill for an 82 percent tax break for corporations - with no guarantee of a single job.”
With today’s deal, school per pupil cuts will only be an additional $99 on top of the $170 dollar cut carried over from last year. This $170 per pupil figure is money that was replaced with one time Federal money this past school year. The State refuses to be responsible for making up that piece of per pupil funding. With the $99 and $170 loss of per pupil funding, the total loss of school funding this year will “only be” $269 per student.
Gov. Rick SNYDER had proposed cutting schools by $470-per-pupil as part of his original '12 budget recommendation. $310 million is being put back into the K-12 school budget as part of the agreement announced today. $150 million will be given out on a per-pupil basis to districts that demonstrate "best practices”. While not definitively spelled out, it is suggested that it would include schools creating a "dashboard," bidding out non-instructional services and looking at employee benefit reforms. At this time, it appears that the Appropriations Committee will be allowed to spell out these “best practices”. However, this is a phrase Governor Snyder has used often when speaking of his plans for education. Will privatized instructional services and employee benefit reforms really be a “best practice” in educational reform?
The remaining $160 million must be used to help districts cover their retirement costs. This could be significant for all school districts because of the original 4% increase, to a total of 24% of salary the schools were to be required to pay toward employee retirement costs. How this is applied to retirement costs will need to be seen.
House Representatives Lisa Brown and Ellen Cogen Lipton were not impressed, releasing the following statement, “Our state can — and should — invest more in our schools, our children and our communities. We must also continue to stand strong against the Governor and Republicans who are forcing our children to foot the bill for an 82 percent tax break for corporations - with no guarantee of a single job.”
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
UPDATE on the Senate Bill requiring 20% Payment of Health Care
The insurance bill (SJ 0007) requiring a 20% payment by the employee toward their health care costs did NOT reach the Senate floor today, but there is plenty of talk going on in the Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee.
Sen. Mark JANSEN (R-Gaines Twp.) said he's making the case against including a hard cap on costs. For instance, a hard cap of $13,000 has been discussed. This would mean that, by law, a school district could pay no more than $13,000 toward each employee’s health care. Anything above that hard cap would be the responsibility of the employee. This amount could EXCEED a 20% payment and would subject an employee to any increase in costs in coming years.
Sen. Jansen has concern that the “hard cap” would cause the bill to “end up in court”, so he wants to keep the bill “clean”, as he says.
Senator Jansen also commented that there's a fairness issue; insurance costs more in Detroit than in the Upper Peninsula, meaning it could benefit outstate districts more than urban ones. However, many superintendents testified today that it would save their districts money. Other superintendents complained to the committee today that they would not benefit from SJ 0007 this year because they were in mid-contract and would not be able to implement a required payment until their contracts expired if it were to become law.
They are now predicting that the bill will come to the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
Tell your senator that Senate Bill 7 will not solve Michigan’s budget crisis. Tell your senator that you have paid for your health insurance over the years by giving up pay raises and with savings realized through reducing your coverages! Tell your senator this should be up to individual school district contract negotiations!
WRITE Immediately or CALL NOW! Please use your cell phones or home emails!
Sen. Mark Jansen - R - Gaines Township - Committee Chair
SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Joe Hune - R - Hamburg Township (Livingston County)
SenJHune@senate.michigan.gove
State Senator Mike Kowall R-White Lake Twp
517-373-1758
SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Howard Walker, R - Grand Traverse
SenHWalker@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. John Pappageorge, R – Troy
SenJPappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Bruce Caswell, R - Hillsdale
SenBCaswell@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Mark JANSEN (R-Gaines Twp.) said he's making the case against including a hard cap on costs. For instance, a hard cap of $13,000 has been discussed. This would mean that, by law, a school district could pay no more than $13,000 toward each employee’s health care. Anything above that hard cap would be the responsibility of the employee. This amount could EXCEED a 20% payment and would subject an employee to any increase in costs in coming years.
Sen. Jansen has concern that the “hard cap” would cause the bill to “end up in court”, so he wants to keep the bill “clean”, as he says.
Senator Jansen also commented that there's a fairness issue; insurance costs more in Detroit than in the Upper Peninsula, meaning it could benefit outstate districts more than urban ones. However, many superintendents testified today that it would save their districts money. Other superintendents complained to the committee today that they would not benefit from SJ 0007 this year because they were in mid-contract and would not be able to implement a required payment until their contracts expired if it were to become law.
They are now predicting that the bill will come to the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
Tell your senator that Senate Bill 7 will not solve Michigan’s budget crisis. Tell your senator that you have paid for your health insurance over the years by giving up pay raises and with savings realized through reducing your coverages! Tell your senator this should be up to individual school district contract negotiations!
WRITE Immediately or CALL NOW! Please use your cell phones or home emails!
Sen. Mark Jansen - R - Gaines Township - Committee Chair
SenMJansen@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Joe Hune - R - Hamburg Township (Livingston County)
SenJHune@senate.michigan.gove
State Senator Mike Kowall R-White Lake Twp
517-373-1758
SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Howard Walker, R - Grand Traverse
SenHWalker@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. John Pappageorge, R – Troy
SenJPappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
Sen. Bruce Caswell, R - Hillsdale
SenBCaswell@senate.michigan.gov
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
TODAY!!!!! Senate May vote to require TEACHERS TO PAY 20% OF INSURANCE
It appears that the State Senate will vote on Senate Bill 7 today.
This bill 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.
Tell your senator that Senate Bill 7 will not solve Michigan’s budget crisis. Tell you senator that you have paid for your health insurance over the years by giving up pay raises and with savings realized through reducing your coverages! Tell your senator this should be up to individual school district contract negotiations!
WRITE Immediately or CALL NOW! Please use your cell phones or home emails!
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
mailto:SenHHopgood@senate.michigan.gov
This bill 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.
Tell your senator that Senate Bill 7 will not solve Michigan’s budget crisis. Tell you senator that you have paid for your health insurance over the years by giving up pay raises and with savings realized through reducing your coverages! Tell your senator this should be up to individual school district contract negotiations!
WRITE Immediately or CALL NOW! Please use your cell phones or home emails!
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
mailto:SenHHopgood@senate.michigan.gov
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