Federal Legislative Updates
News from Capitol Hill. . .
February 25, 2011
Workers Are Under Attack: Stand With Educators Fighting For
Their Rights!
Wisconsin Governor Walker continues to push his anti-worker
agenda as he refuses to negotiate. Educators in Wisconsin have
repeatedly stated that this fight is not about pay and benefits – it is
about the right to be heard.
This week, Governor Walker showed his true colors – an ideological
agenda to silence workers. In a taped conversation with someone posing as his
supporter, billionaire David Koch, the Governor bragged about using
layoff threats to bully and intimidate working families into submission.
While the nation seems to have its eyes and ears on
Wisconsin, attacks are happening all across the country.
Teachers,
school support staff, nurses, firefighters, and middle class workers and
families are under relentless attack in state after state by an
unprecedented, well-funded, and coordinated national campaign. But, as
the fight continues, workers and their supporters are standing up and
demanding to be heard. Rallies with unprecedented turnout have been held
in states across the nation. Read about rallies around the nation.
The labor movement in this country has been responsible for safety
standards, the minimum wage, fair employment practices, and more. For
educators, our collective bargaining rights allow us to raise concerns
about class size, school safety, and other important teaching and
learning conditions. To express your support for workers’ rights across
the country, please sign our national petition and follow the latest news
about the attacks on our rights.
Tell The Senate To Stand Strong Against House-Passed
Education Cuts The House of Representatives has passed a “continuing resolution”
(CR) for the rest of the current fiscal year (FY 2011). The draconian
education cuts contained in the House CR would dash the dreams of
countless American students, put additional strain on state budgets
already cut to the bone, and stall the engine that drives our economy.
Thousands of students would lose Title I services and Head Start slots;
local tax burdens would increase as education costs are shifted to state
and local levels; millions of students would lose Pell Grant
assistance; and thousands of education jobs would be lost. See how much your state would lose. See
how your representative voted.
But, the fight is not over! Congress returns on February 28 with a
looming deadline, as the current CR is set to expire on March 4. The
House will have to negotiate with the Senate and the President in order
to craft a CR that can be enacted into law.
Your voice is
critical as negotiations continue – particularly to tell the Senate to
stand firm against the cuts. Take Action TODAY: Tell the Senate to reject the House-passed
education funding cuts and to invest in education for our nation’s
future.
Any voter in New Jersey, even if he or she is home on Election Day, may vote by absentee ballot.
A voter may apply for an absentee ballot by completing an Absentee Ballot Application and mailing the application to their County Clerk by mail up to seven days prior to the election. A voter may also apply in person to the County Clerk until 3 p.m., the day before the election. The County Clerk cannot accept faxed copies of an Absentee Ballot Application since an original signature is required.
Live in Pennsylvania?
Your voter registration form and absentee ballot application can also be found online. ___________________________________________________________________ Members are encouraged to visit the following sites for the most up-to-date legislative action information:
• CYBERLOBBYING - Members can visit this area to take action on current legislative issues. While you are there, sign up for the NJEA's CyberLOBBEE News to get the latest on issues that affect the state aid to schools, professional development, retirement security, children, and public education.
• LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM - The legislative program is revised annually. It details legislative accomplishments over the previous years as well as thelegislative goals and objectives sought by NJEA at the state and federal levels.
• NJEA PAC - Members can log in to find background information on and procedures for contributing to NJEA's political action fund.
• NJEA POSITION STATEMENTS - Members can log in and find NJEA's position statements on pending legislation.
