You may have received an email from MEA asking you to email Senators Collins and Snowe, urging them to support the stimulus package. If not, allow me to explain the request.
The President has proposed a stimulus package, including significant money for education. The stabilization portion would inject $120 million into Maine's K-12 budget and $38 million into higher ed. There would also be money for IDEA, Title I, modernization, and construction.
The bill passed the House but faces opposition in the Senate. Senators Snowe and Collins have been friends to education (Snowe has twice been endorsed by MEA-NEA; Collins has earned an A rating from NEA) and would be likely supporters, but they will face strong pressure from Republican leaders to hold the line.
As you may know, the Governor proposed cutting the state's funding to education mid-year. If the Legislature accepts the proposal to close the state's deficit, South Portland will lose around $475,000 from this year's budget. Next year's district deficit looks like it will be around $1.6 million.
If you agree that the stimulus package ought to be passed, please use the link below to contact Senators Snowe and Collins. If you disagree, find your own damn link.
http://capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=12542176&type=CO
The message that I sent to the Senators is posted in the comments. Please feel free to post your own messages there. It would be interesting to see what folks sent (even if they opposed the stimulus package).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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2 comments:
Here's the message I sent:
I know there will be tremendous pressure on you to support the stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). There will also be substantial pressure on you to oppose it. As I add my voice to those urging you to support the bill, I want to briefly mention two factors.
First, the country needs economic stimulus. Humans will never craft a perfect law, but we can craft laws that are necessary. Right now, action on the economy is necessary and this bill will deliver the help required.
Second, the Republicans cannot rebuild by positioning themselves as a unanimous block of naysayers. We got whacked hard by the voters -- to earn back their trust, we must carefully choose when to loyally oppose and when to support the administration. My strong sense is that economic stimulus not something to oppose -- the public will not thank us to obstruct relief from this recession.
Thanks for considering my views. I wish you luck on this and on all the critical matters before you.
Sincerely,
Tom Major
Well put, sir. The use of profanity always gets the point across!
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