Franklin County Democrats

Action expected this week on Workplace Discrimination and Whistle-Blower Laws. Also, Senate Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee will poke their noses into PSRS, the Missouri teachers retirement system. I thought Republicans were for government keeping out of our personal business!

Let your legislators know your opinion!

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Missouri NEA Legislative Update   
Week 10, No. 3, March 7, 2012
By Otto Fajen   
MNEA Legislative Director

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE COMPLETES ACTION ON BUDGET BILLS

The House Budget Committee met on March 7 approved the HCS versions of all FY 2013 operating budget bills, including the K-12 (HB 2002) and higher education (HB 2003) budget bills.  The only changes to HCS/HB 2002 from the proposed HCS version discussed on March 5 were to increase funding for employing teachers in underprivileged urban school districts by $500,000 and to increase funding for the early grade literacy program by $192,000.

SCHOOL RETIREMENT

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee will hear SB 842 (John Lamping) on March 8.  The bill would enact into statute the Fiscal Stabilization Policy adopted last year by the PSRS Board of Trustees.  While the Association supports the PSRS Board’s action to adopt the Fiscal Stabilization Policy, enacting the specific provisions of the policy into a permanent statute is both cumbersome and unneeded.  Missouri NEA believes the legislature should leave this decision-making at the board level so that it can more easily adapt to changing conditions, if necessary.

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Senate and House Committees do their dirty work moving bills forward to repeal tenure, moving education monies from public to private hands and discriminate in the workplace.

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Missouri NEA Legislative Update   
Week 10, No. 2, March 6, 2012
By Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director

SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES TENURE REPEAL BILL

The Senate General Laws Committee passed an SCS version of SB 806 (Jane Cunningham) on March 6. The Association strongly opposes the bill.  The bill eliminates the current tenure law for all teachers, and places all new hires on one-year contracts beginning in the 2013-14 school year.  The bill allows contracts of up to four years, at district discretion.  The bill eliminates seniority as a factor in decisions regarding reduction in force.  The bill also includes numerous mandates regarding teacher evaluation systems, such as requiring at least fifty percent of evaluations to be based on student test scores and prohibiting districts and employees from designing evaluation systems within collective bargaining negotiations.

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Jerry Berger

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem startled legal eagles and campaign pros from afternoon naps just as they had got comfy post-legislative recess. From the seat of Missouri state government, Hizzoner ruled State Auditor Tom Schweich has no constitutional authority to draw up the short ballot description of the financial impact of various initiative petitions. This means legal chaos for about four dozen initiatives, some with petitions already circulating to get voter signatures for being placed on this November’s ballot. Judge Beetem ruled in a case involving one of multiple proposed cigarette tax increases. Judge Beetem’s ruling validated arguments by Jeff City’s Most Influential Barrister, Chuck Hatfield at Stinson, Morrison Hecker. Hatfield is making similar arguments against other proposals now on the constitutionally questionable list. Those he targets include Rex Sinquefield’s proposed state constitutional amendment to dump the personal income tax and raise the s ales tax on just about everything you buy every day. The ruling is a big setback for campaigns trying to gather enough signatures to make the ballot in the required number of congressional districts. If Beetem’s ruling is upheld, all signatures they have gathered so far are worthless. To reach the Missouri Supreme Court for a final decision would take considerable time as the clock runs on an early May deadline to turn in voter signatures for verification. Even with Rex’s willingness to vastly overspend on lawyers, consultants and armies of fast-talking signature gatherers, it’ll be a hurdle to get the job done. The reliable Associated Press Jefferson City Correspondent David A. Lieb broke the story that started the buzz. Gathered at Jefferson City’s favorite post-legislative recess hangout, Alexandro’s Restaurant, statehouse denizens were alternating happy hour potables with shouted headlines to twist the tongue, like this one: “Judge’s plunked pebble in the pond of politics stirs signature tsunami!” Another round, Alex!

In a difficult economy education is hurting along with other social services. Also, read about current activity regarding WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION AND WHISTLE-BLOWER LAW.

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Missouri NEA Legislative Update
Week 10, No. 1, March 5, 2012
By Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE FACES DIFFICULT CHOICES

The House Budget Committee met on March 5 to review the proposed HCS version of all of the state operating budget bills, including the K-12 (HB 2002) and higher education (HB 2003) budget bills.  The committee members will work on March 6 to draft and discuss amendments and reconvene on March 7 to offer and vote on those amendments.  The committee will seek to conclude executive action on the budget bills this week before leaving on spring break.  Lack of state revenues leaves the committee with no good choices as it seeks to fund K-12 and higher education without harming Missourians with cuts to other vital services.

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If you don’t know this man, meet him. He is out to use his money to maintain and increase the 1%’s oppression of the 99%.

Here is a post from Mark Jones, Political Director, MNEA.

Often a picture is worth a thousand words. Today a new website was launched to put Rex Sinquefield’s radical agenda in perspective.

Go to ” rexpositions.com ” and checkout the visuals, charts, and images that can help you explain to your friends, co-workers, and family members the danger of the Sinquefield agenda. Sometimes serious – sometimes satirical, but always useful.  Feel free to share the images via twitter or facebook and help spread the word about the danger of Sinquefield’s agenda.

Best,
Mark Jones, Political Director, MNEA

Ditto for today’s action, rather non-action, by the House Rules Committee on the controversial HCS/HB 1740 (Scott Dieckhaus).

Missouri NEA Legislative Update
Week 9, No. 3, February 29, 2012
By Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director

HOUSE OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL REMAINS IN RULES COMMITTEE

The House Rules Committee failed to take up and consider HCS/HB 1740 (Scott Dieckhaus) at its meeting February 28.  The House Rules Committee is a gatekeeper committee that determines whether a bill approved by the committee of origin should be placed on the calendar.  The bill can not be taken up for floor action until taken up and approved by the Rules Committee.  No hearing on the bill is scheduled at this time.  Majority caucus members have been called into several lengthy caucus meetings this week where the bill has been discussed extensively, as support for the bill is a caucus position.

The Association strongly opposes the tenure repeal, charter school expansion, virtual school open enrollment and tax credit-style voucher portions of the bill. Legislative action is needed on several issues included in the bill, such as stabilizing formula aid next year, creating fair standards for student transfers from unaccredited districts and allowing prompt intervention by the State Board in support of unaccredited districts and their communities.  The Association opposes holding those positive steps hostage to a radical and unworkable agenda.

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Missouri NEA Legislative Update
Week 9, No. 2, February 28, 2012
By Otto Fajen   
MNEA Legislative Director

HOUSE OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL

The House Rules Committee failed to take up and consider HCS/HB 1740 (Scott Dieckhaus) at its meeting February 28.  The House Rules Committee is a gatekeeper committee that determines whether a bill approved by the committee of origin should be placed on the calendar.  The bill can not be taken up for floor action until taken up and approved by the Rules Committee.  No hearing on the bill is scheduled at this time.  Majority caucus members have been called into several lengthy caucus meetings this week where the bill has been discussed extensively, as support for the bill is a caucus position.

The Association strongly opposes the tenure repeal, charter school expansion, virtual school open enrollment and tax credit-style voucher portions of the bill. Legislative action is needed on several issues included in the bill, such as stabilizing formula aid next year, creating fair standards for student transfers from unaccredited districts and allowing prompt intervention by the State Board in support of unaccredited districts and their communities.  The Association opposes holding those positive steps hostage to a radical and unworkable agenda.

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Here’s the latest update on the dangerous move by both houses now against the provisions that provide a good education for our students. (and one small glimmer of light in a house higher education committee calling for student representation on the University of Missouri Board of Curators).

Missouri NEA Legislative Update
Week 9, No. 1, February 27, 2012
By Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director

SENATE COMMITTEE TO HEAR TENURE REPEAL BILL

The Senate General Laws Committee will hear SB 806 (Jane Cunningham) on February 28. The Association strongly opposes the bill.  The bill eliminates the current tenure law for all teachers, and places all new hires on one-year contracts beginning in the 2013-14 school year.  The bill allows contracts of up to four years, at district discretion.  The bill eliminates seniority as a factor in decisions regarding reduction in force.  The bill also includes numerous mandates regarding teacher evaluation systems, such as requiring at least fifty percent of evaluations to be based on student test scores and prohibiting districts and employees from designing evaluation systems within collective bargaining negotiations.

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The vote is due this coming Tuesday. It’s very easy to email your representative using the form found at:

http://www.capwiz.com/nea/mo/issues/alert/?alertid=61033371&type=ST

It contains a brief summary and editable message box to send your personal opinion to your representative.

Missouri NEA Special Legislative Action Alert
February 24, 2012
By Otto Fajen  
MNEA Legislative Director

ACTION ALERT – HOUSE TO DEBATE OMNIBUS BILL PUTS REAL NEEDS AT RISK BY PUSHING AGENDA OF VOUCHERS, OPEN ENROLLMENT, TENURE REPEAL AND CHARTER EXPANSION

The House is expected to take up HCS/HB 1740 (Scott Dieckhaus on February 28.  The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee approved an HCS version of HB 1740 on February 22 in a contentious executive session.
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Making a full frontal attack on education, Scott Dieckhaus bulldozes this omnibus bill.

Notice his rude refusal of recognition to Reps. Aull and McNeil

(I submit only this item from the past three days of Otto Fajen’s report because of its egregious attack on education and the manner(s) of its proposer. Please contact your Reps for corrective action in this matter.)

Missouri NEA Weekly Legislative Update   Week 8, No. 3, February 22, 2012

By Otto Fajen   MNEA Legislative Director

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE APPROVES OMNIBUS BILL

The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee approved an HCS version for HB 1740 (Scott Dieckhaus) on February 22 in a contentious executive session.

The HCS:

1 repeals teacher tenure for all new hires and eliminates use of seniority in reduction in force,

2 repeals the minimum teacher salary for teachers with Master’s degrees and ten or more years of teaching,

3 contains a tax-credit style voucher for students of unaccredited districts to attend private schools,

4 adds charter school expansion and accountability similar to HCS/HB 1228 (Tishaura Jones),

5 creates statewide virtual district school and virtual charter school open enrollment,

6 includes provisions allowing accredited districts to establish class-size capacity standards with regard to student transfers from unaccredited districts,

7 contains the provisions of HCS/HB 1174 (Mike Lair) to allow the State Board of Education to hold a hearing and act to revise the governance of a school district when it becomes unaccredited, rather than automatically lapsing the district after two years, and

8 contains the provisions of HCS/HB 1043 (Mike Thomson) regarding distribution of school formula funds when the formula is underfunded.

Rep. Joe Aull attempted to divide the question to allow a separate vote on tenure repeal, but Rep. Dieckhaus would not recognize him to make that motion.  Rep. Dieckhaus also denied Rep. Margo McNeil further time to speak to her concerns on the bill when she described the tax credit provision as a voucher.

The committee ultimately approved the HCS without amendment by a 13-9 vote.  Reps. Dieckhaus, Cookson, Bahr, Barnes, Burlison, Cierpiot, Funderburk, Leara, McNary, Neth, Schad, Scharnhorst and Stream voted in favor.  Reps. Anders, Aull, Fitzwater, (Tishaura) Jones, Lampe, McNeil, Shively, Swinger and Thomson voted against the bill.  Reps. Carter and Frederick were not present for the vote.

The Association strongly opposes the tenure repeal, charter school expansion, virtual school open enrollment and tax credit-style voucher portions of the bill.  Stay tuned for an upcoming action alert to all state representatives concerning HB 1740.  The bill is likely to be brought to the House floor for debate early next week.