STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, RETIREES: NO ONE IS SAFE FROM DAMAGING HOUSE BUDGET!

Trouble viewing this email? Read it online.   This Week's News: STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, RETIREES:  NO ONE IS SAFE FROM DAMAGING HOUSE BUDGET!  A budget proposal for fiscal year 2012 released by House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) would attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and our most vulnerable populations.  The House proposal would, among other things: Make deep cuts to non-security "discretionary" spending – which would cause dramatic reductions in education services to students and ballooning class sizes; Dismantle health care for the poor, disabled, and elderly by turning Medicaid into a block grant program.  Fifty percent of Medicaid enrollees are children and one-third of all children receive their health care through Medicaid; Cut the maximum Pell Grant award, dashing the dreams of higher education for millions of students;  Extend the District of Columbia Voucher Program, funneling scarce taxpayer dollars to private schools while slashing funding for programs serving public school students;  Convert Medicare into a voucher system in which recipients would purchase insurance.  Under such a system, insurance companies could reject the sickest patients or charge higher premiums to the oldest. The proposal passed out of committee on April 6 and the full House is expected to vote on it the week of April 11.  Take Action TODAY:  Tell your Representative to vote NO on a proposal to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and the poor.  Read NEA's letter opposing the budget proposal. At the same time, discussions continue on a continuing resolution for the current fiscal year (FY2011).  To avoid a government shutdown, Members of Congress must reach an agreement this weekend.  With many in Congress pushing for deep cuts in education and other programs, congressional supporters of public education must hold firm and stand up against such cuts.  At stake is funding for critical education programs like Title I, IDEA special education, and Pell Grants – programs that are critical to ensuring every student the opportunity to succeed in the 21st century.  Your voice is critical to keep up the pressure for investments in education.  Take Action TODAY:  Tell Congress to craft a full-year continuing resolution that invests in education for our nation's future. Back to Top ATTENTION NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS:  HELP SAVE NBPTS FUNDING! Discussions around the continuing resolution have included proposals to eliminate all "earmarks," including funding for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).  We need your help to save this important funding!  The NBPTS improves teaching and student learning.  National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards.  Elimination of this funding would decrease the ability of over 20,000 teachers and other educators annually in all 50 states and D.C. to seek National Board Certification, and impede the participation of Board Certified Teachers in school improvement efforts.  Take Action TODAY:  Tell Congress to protect funding for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Back to Top BILL TO REPEAL UNFAIR SOCIAL SECURITY OFFSETS INTRODUCED! The Social Security Fairness Act, (H.R. 1332) which would repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, was reintroduced this week with 49 original cosponsors .  The GPO and WEP unfairly cut or eliminate Social Security benefits that public employees or their spouses have earned.  Learn more about these unfair offsets Take Action TODAY: Tell your Representative to cosponsor and support passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.  Back to Top TELL THE SENATE TO REJECT VOUCHERS AND STAND UP FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION As we reported last week, the House has passed legislation to renew and expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program.  NEA strongly opposed the bill, which diverts millions of scarce taxpayer dollars to private schools through a program already proven ineffective.  Senator Lieberman (I-CT) is expected to try to move the voucher bill in the Senate by trying to attach it to multiple pieces of legislation coming to the Senate floor.  Take Action TODAY:  If your Representative voted against the voucher bill, send a thank you e-mail.  Tell your Senators to VOTE NO on renewal and expansion of the DC voucher program, when it comes up for a vote in that chamber.  Back to Top CHEERS AND JEERS Cheers to: Representative Mike Honda (D-CA), who sponsored and fought for an amendment in the budget committee to protect our students' and our nation's future by blocking proposed deep cuts to education and Head Start.  The amendment, which failed on a 16-22 party line vote, was an important attempt to correct the backward priorities espoused in the Chairman's proposal. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), who spoke eloquently in the budget committee in opposition to a budget that does nothing but ask the poor and middle class to sacrifice.  Representative Ryan cited studies backing wise cost-effective investment in early childhood education and argued that we should be investing more in education.  Representatives Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA), who stood up for educators and other public employees by reintroducing the Social Security Fairness Act -- to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.  Jeers to: House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), who proposed a budget that runs completely counter to our values as a nation, by asking our children, working families, elderly, and disabled populations to make greater sacrifices than others.  A particular jeer to Chairman Ryan's characterization of safety net programs for the disabled and elderly as "hammocks" that allow people to become comfortable rather than helping themselves. Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI), who, in speaking against Representative Honda's budget committee amendment to protect education funding, argued that money isn't what matters in education, what matters is holding schools and teachers accountable. Back to Top   April 8, 2011   In this edition:   STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, RETIREES:  NO ONE IS SAFE FROM DAMAGING HOUSE BUDGET!   ATTENTION NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS:  HELP SAVE NBPTS FUNDING!   BILL TO REPEAL UNFAIR SOCIAL SECURITY OFFSETS INTRODUCED!   TELL THE SENATE TO OPPOSE VOUCHERS AND STAND UP FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION   CHEERS AND JEERS Education Insider is sent to your in-box once a week. We deliver inside information on developments in the federal government that affect children and public education. If you find this information useful, tell a friend. They can sign up for their very own copy at http://www.nea.org/lac and click on "Become a cyber-lobbyist and subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter". 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