Legislative Update

I attended the last MEA government relations committee meeting of the year today (05/09/09). Being a year without statewide elections (though we'll have referenda in the fall), our workload was comparatively light.

The biggest news was about an attempt to shift the burden for retired teachers' health insurance from the state to local districts. The complexity of the issue kept it from much public notice -- the fight seemed to be among experts in government accounting waged within the committee hearing room. Fortunately, the proposal was defeated for this session thanks for MEA's government relations team.

Speaking of those referenda, TABOR II and the Excise Tax reduction will be on the ballot this fall. If opponents of gay marriage succeed in getting 55,087 signatures quickly, that too could be on the ballot. How those questions would influence each other is open to speculation. Of course, if it takes a little longer to get 55,087 signatures, the question will be on the June 2010 ballot. And if it takes any longer than that, the effort will have failed.

In other news, the proposed high school graduation requirements will be heard by the legislatures ed committee Monday, 5/11, at 2:00 PM in 202 Cross.

Perhaps the biggest fight is the charter school bill. Supporters wisely sought to expand their support among Democrats. This year's bill is sponsored by Dennis Damon and cosponsored by Justin Alfond -- both prominent progressives. If you have strong feelings about the bill, it might be best to contact your state reps and state senators now. For the record, MEA is opposed to this bill -- now is not the time to be pulling money from the public school budgets we have and diverting the funds to new programs. Some might be good ideas (some might not) but new programs are a luxury to consider when we are a little less strapped for cash.