TEACH+Meets+With+Toomey

== =By Ryan Dunmire= =1/20/12= = = = I representing TEACH at a meeting with Senator Pat Toomey on Friday, 1/20/12, at noon at the Federal Building Downtown along with four others throughout the Pittsburgh region. The meeting was set up by [|One Pittsburgh] and I was asked to speak on behalf of education. We only had 25 minutes with the Senator however, after the meeting we will had some answers as far as where the Senator stands (for us or against us). Now we can make it count come election time! = = = =At today's meeting I and four others had the opportunity to speak with Senator Pat Toomey and hold an open discussion for twenty-five minutes. I'm proud to say that I stumped him although, I do not believe we swayed the Senator. He is very set on his beliefs, but these are the highlights.= = = = = = =

=The senator was given a statistic that there is the largest gap between the Rich and the poor since 1929 and was asked if he thought that this was an issue. He did NOT. He said the country was founded on the basis of creation and that you hold your own destiny and can build your own opportunity. The lady asking the que = = = =stion then replied "what happens when you can't worry about opportunity because you are trying to feed your family" and he stated that he didn't believe this was an issue. =

= I asked the senator "The average american worker has increased productivity by 400% since 1970 but the wages have remained stagnant. Do you believe this is far?" To that, the governor asked "as an educator tell me, in the past 40 years has a teacher's productivity increased?" to that, I stated "Well sir, funny that you should ask that because I just started teaching six years ago and went from a classroom of fifteen students to forty in six years, so yes, my productivity has increased. The district that I taught in laid off 1/3 of their staff with the same about of students last year alone, do you think their productivity has increased?" he had no response. I said "Sir, do you believe it is fair to have teachers teach with out pay like what is happening in the Chester Upland School District?" he had NO idea about Chester and even asked his asst. if they had heard of this. I said "Well sir, you have students in YOUR state that are not receiving a proper education because monies being taken away. I know my school district is next. After Governor Corbetts 1.62 Million dollars in cuts to public education our poor schools keep getting poorer and rich schools stay the same or grow. Steel Valley School District almost lost $1000 per pupil while an affluent neighboring district only lost $100, is that fair? He said, no, I would think that would break the law. I said "in fact it does sir, and a law suit is in place for that exact thing." The senator then stated that "education is not the responsibility of the Federal Government and that I may be speaking to the wrong person". I stated that I've already spoken to the Governor with no success and we are his constituents too and he needs to be fighting for our kids and their education. I asked the Senator to research Public Education in PA but he also made it VERY clear that he is totally for a voucher based system. =

=An older lady showed statistics that we are following in footsteps of the past and we are headed down the same road. She spoke of Corporate tax breaks and the statistic that the average American worker pays more in taxes than most Corporations. Senator Toomey opposed Croney Capitalism and stated everyone needed to pay their fair share. When asked if he would support the demise of the Delaware Loop Hole, he declined however (he had no idea what that was). He stated that it was up to the Governor and wouldn't interfere and that if another bordering state has lower taxes that it should be competition for our own. =

=Senator Toomey was also asked if it was fair that a CEO of the top 25 companies in the US get paid more than what that company makes and he had no response. He did state that there is too many policies in place that hinder the success of corporations and limit them from creating good jobs. He also stated that companies sit on assets because of said policies and it is a huge problem... = = = = I took from the meeting that Senator Toomey is with the 1% not the 99% and does not care about Middle Class America. = = =

=-Ryan Dunmire= =TEACH Member and furloughed Steel Valley teacher= = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=