Funding took center stage this week in Congress and the
Administration, with debates on resources for the current and next
fiscal years:
FY 2011 Continuing Resolution: This week, the
House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) for the rest of
the current fiscal year. The NEA-opposed CR cuts or eliminates funding
for a number of education programs, including the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards, and includes an across the board cut
that will impact programs like Title I and IDEA. It also expands the
District of Columbia private school voucher program. See how your Representative and Senators voted. Read NEA's letter opposing the CR.
FY 2012 Budget: As of this writing, the House
of Representative is expected to pass very shortly a budget proposal
for fiscal year 2012 (which begins October 1) that will result in more
joblessness for the middle class and more tax breaks for the wealthiest
in our country. The middle class continues to struggle to find work,
pay more for health care, and worry about their children's education and
future. Seniors continue to worry about their retirement security.
Yet, the House budget provides rhetoric rather than solutions.
It is unconscionable to expect children, the elderly, the
poor, and the disabled to bear the brunt of the pain while sparing the
wealthy corporations and greedy CEOs. The single largest
contributing factor to the deficit is the tax cuts enacted under the
last administration and renewed in 2010. It
cost our nation $700 billion to extend the tax cuts for single filers
earning over $200,000 a year and joint filers earning over $250,000.
The House is also expected to reject a Democratic alternative
budget that would allow for growth in funding for education, research,
and innovation; sustain the maximum Pell grant award at $5,550; and
protect Medicaid and Medicare.
This week, President Obama also gave a budget speech in which he:
- Said that he "will not sacrifice the core investments that we
need to grow and create jobs....We will invest in education. We
will invest in job training. We will do what we need to do to compete,
and we will win the future."
- Promised, "I will not allow Medicare to become a voucher
program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry,
with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs....We will reform these
programs, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment this
country has kept for generations."
- Said "both parties should work together now to strengthen Social
Security for future generations. But we have to do it without
putting at risk current retirees, or the most vulnerable, or
people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future
generations; and without subjecting Americans' guaranteed
retirement income to the whims of the stock market."
Read the President's full speech and NEA's response to the President's speech.
Congress is in recess until May 2. When they return, action on funding will shift to the Senate.
Take Action TODAY: Tell your Senators to support children, the middle class, and those in greatest need.
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Congress could take up reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act in the next few months. In fact, Senate Education
Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) has indicated that he would like to
move a bill through the Senate by this summer. With so many new
Members serving in the 112th Congress, it is essential that the experts
- educators working every day in public schools across the nation -
are front and center in the debate. Members of Congress need to be
educated about the flaws in the No Child Left Behind Act and what is
really needed to ensure great public schools for every student.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress
that every child deserves a great public school, and that legislators
need listen to educators if they want to learn how to make that happen.
Take Action in the Next Few Weeks: Congress
returns home for recess April 18-29. Educators should take advantage
of this opportunity to talk with Members of Congress back in their
districts about ESEA reauthorization. Share your story and tell
policymakers what works best in your school or classroom. Call your
Member's district office to set up an appointment, or visit the
Member's website to find out about town hall meetings in your area.
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The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing
April 14 on "State and Municipal Debt: Tough Choices Ahead." The
hearing featured Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker whose appearance was
advertised by the Committee as "To understand impediments to reform and
what it takes to climb out of a deep fiscal hole, Wisconsin Governor
Scott Walker will testify about how he successfully championed sweeping
reforms that will keep his state solvent." Governor Walker took the
opportunity to defend his actions in ramming through the state
legislature anti-union, anti-public worker legislation. Walker stated, "
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin provided an alternative point
of view, explaining how he has been able to work collaboratively with
unions in Vermont to address fiscal challenges. Governor Shumlin
stated, "Vermont is an excellent illustration of what states can do
when we put aside partisan differences, tone down heated rhetoric
between labor and management, and work together for the best interests
of our citizens."
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Cheers to:
 Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (D),
who during his eloquent testimony before the House Oversight Committee
said, "I do not believe that those to blame for our current financial
troubles are our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other
state employees whose services we take for granted. The notion that a
state trooper making a middle class living with health care benefits
for her family, or a snow plow driver who works long hours in dangerous
conditions and makes a decent but modest wage, is responsible for this
problem is simply false."
Members of the House Oversight Committee who stood up for public employees during the April 14 hearing, including:
Representatives Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who said,
"I strongly oppose efforts to falsely blame middle-class American
workers for these current economic problems. This recession was not
caused by them. Working America - fire fighters, teachers and nurses -
are not responsible for the reckless actions of Wall Street, which led
to this crisis in the first place. I also strongly object to efforts
by politicians who try to use the current economic downturn to strip
American workers of their rights - the right to negotiate working
conditions that are safe, the right to negotiate due process protections
against being fired arbitrarily, and the right to negotiate fair pay
for an honest day's work."
Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), who, although not
even on the Oversight Committee attended the April 14 hearing and
challenged Governor Walker, asking why he gave $117 million in tax
breaks while balancing the budget on the backs of the poor and cutting
education.
Representative Mike Ross (D-AR), who spoke on the House floor in
support of education funding during debate on the continuing
resolution, stating "Proven programs like Title I, IDEA, and education
technology should be maintained and prioritized because they provide
essential services to the students with the greatest needs throughout
our nation. In addition, I am concerned that we are moving away from
basic education aid to all states and increasingly relying on
competitive grants, which often
disadvantage rural school districts like many in my state."
Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) ,
who said during debate on the FY 2012 budget, "The size of our
deficit, the level of our taxes, those are important, but they are not
the sole lens through which the strength of America should be viewed.
We want an America where the young have educational opportunity, where
the not so young have the dignity of their old age, and a bigger middle
class shares in the success of our country. To secure our long-term
future, every American can give a little. But this unfair proposal
asks little from those with much, and so much from those who have so
little. "
Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representative Sam Graves (R-MO),
who announced this week their introduction of resolutions commemorating
American Teacher Week. The resolutions thank teachers for their
service; promote the profession of teaching; and encourage students,
parents, school administrators, and public officials to participate in
teacher appreciation events during ''National Teacher Appreciation Week.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA),
who advocated on the Senate floor this week, "a balanced [budget]
approach that includes spending cuts and necessary revenue increases
while continuing to make crucial investments in education,
infrastructure, and research, the investments that are absolutely
essential if we are going to stay competitive in a global economy."
Jeers to:
 House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA), who convened the April 14 hearing as a platform to allow Governor Walker to defend his attacks on public employees.
Representative Dennis Ross (R-FL),
who, at the April 14 hearing argued against collective bargaining,
claimed that union activities cost millions to taxpayers, and stated
that he was "offended" by the actions of the 14 Wisconsin Senators who
left the state to block a vote on the anti-union bill.
Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), who at the April 14 hearing stated that defined benefit pension plans are "an illusion."
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