On+the+Hill+-+May+20,+2011

=On the Hill - May 20, 2011 =

=<__@https://webmail.psea.org/owa/?ae=Item&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAABI6iqGhkzREY3OAIBf1jLCBwDlSVofXcfSEaY7AAjH2bKiAAAAXYl6AAC3KIz7UMeZTK%2b7skSPIUQcAARQ17DbAAAJ&a=Forward&cb=0 __> =

=On the Hill is PSEA's legislative and political update for members, distributed biweekly during legislative sessions. =

=State budget action needed TODAY = =The House is poised for a vote next week on a $27.3 billion budget<__@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a4x1981& __> (House Bill 1485) that would cut nearly $1 billion from public education. While this budget proposal does restore some of the education cuts made by Governor Corbett, it still means major cuts to programs that help students succeed, and imposes deep cuts on additional programs that would negatively impact critical services for women, children, seniors, and vulnerable Pennsylvanians. We need to tell state representatives that this is not a viable solution. =

=At the same time House Republicans are proposing cuts to vital services, House Bill 1485<__@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a4x1981& __> protects corporate tax loopholes, fails to enact a Marcellus Shale drilling tax, and puts $500 million of Pennsylvania taxpayer money in a "Rainy Day Fund" instead of using that money to prevent devastating cuts and save jobs. Legislators need to know it’s "raining" NOW in communities across Pennsylvania. They need to do the right thing and invest surplus dollars into public schools and other critical services. =

=Please call your state representative and urge him or her to vote NO on the House Republican budget. Ask representatives to restore the cuts to education and vital services. Tell them, it’s raining now and that surplus revenues should be used to help keep property taxes down by funding schools and the social services that our most vulnerable citizens rely on. =

=Find more information on the state budget proposal at www.savepaschools.org<__@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x318bx1981& __> and www.clearforpa.org<__@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x3a3x1981& __>. =

=State cuts here, local cuts there... caps on local property taxes = =In addition to cutting funding for our schools on the state level, legislative efforts underway would eliminate local control of school budgets. Senate Bill 911<__@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a5x1981& __> and House Bill 1326<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a6x1981& __> would eliminate ALL referendum exceptions that were established through Act 1 of 2006. Both bills passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and House Finance Committee, respectively. If enacted, these bills will mean even more programs cuts and staff furloughs, because there will be no way for school districts to budget responsibly while managing the decreased education funding from the state and federal government. Find more information on HB 1326<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a6x1981& __>. =

=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Seniority protected = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Congratulations! Since January, PSEA members have sent more than 50,000 emails and letters to legislators urging that seniority rights be maintained. It worked! =

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Last week, Senate Bill 612 was amended<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a7x1981& __> to include language that protects seniority rights. Seniority will be the sole factor in determining how economic furloughs will occur, with one exception. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The inclusion of this compromise amendment enabled PSEA to remove its opposition to the bill. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38-12<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a8x1981& __> and now moves to the House, where there will be pressure to remove the seniority provisions. Calls to your state Representative on this bill will be needed in the near future, so please stay alert to act. =

=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">School "Choice" - Vouchers, EITC, etc. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Senate Bill 1 appears to have hit a significant roadblock in the Senate. Despite pressure from interest groups funded by a small handful of billionaires, the bill does not have adequate support to pass in the Senate at this time. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi indicates that the issue of school choice will likely be pushed to the fall. In large part, this is due to YOUR advocacy. Whether you sent emails, letters, made phone calls or personal visits, your voice made a difference. =

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The House of Representatives, which has not voiced support for SB 1, last week voted on House Bill 1330<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a9x1981& __>, which would expand the current Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC). Originally established over a decade ago, the EITC program provides tax credits to businesses that provide funding to scholarship organizations and/or innovative educational programs in public schools. HB 1330 would increase the EITC from $60 million to $100 million in the 2011-2012 state budget. =

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Even though the House passed HB 1330<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31a9x1981& __> with broad bipartisan support and 190 votes, its prospects appear uncertain. Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin) declared the bill "dead on arrival" in the Senate. Since the legislation likely will be referred to his committee, it is not anticipated that he will bring HB 1330 up for a vote. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This issue has spurred some discord between the House and Senate with House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) noting surprise at Senator Piccola's remarks. "I wouldn’t imagine the governor or anybody would be dismissive of such a significant pronouncement such as the House vote on House Bill 1330," Turzai told the media. =

=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Unemployment Compensation Under Attack = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PSEA stands with our labor brothers and sisters in opposing House Bill 916<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31aax1981& __>, which would drastically cut Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits for many unemployed Pennsylvanians. The House could vote on the measure as early as Monday, May 23. HB 916<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31aax1981& __> proposes harmful reductions to benefits, reduces the timeframe for eligibility, and may disqualify many unemployed workers from the program entirely - including workers forced to leave their jobs for family or medical reasons. No one denies that PA needs to address concerns around the solvency of the UC Trust Fund, from which benefits are paid, but addressing concerns by cutting benefits for unemployed working men and women while employers do not pay their fair share is NOT a solution. =

=<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Visit __<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://www.nelp.org/page/speakout __<__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-family: serif; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">@http://listserv01.psea.org/trk/click?ref=ztdu81631_0-281x31abx1981& __> to learn more and take action. = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=