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Action necessary:
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and distribute this message to colleagues and friends.
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Send an e-mail to your representative and
senator supporting a Base Student Allocation of $5,953
Calendar:
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Session enters the Easter break. Please look for the April
10 LCS Update for a calendar for the week.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION HEADS TO EASTER BREAK
This
week and past weekend has been extremely busy as the
legislature prepares for a five day Easter break.
NEA-Alaska has testified on legislation dealing with PERS/TRS
and Education Funding (see below).Governor Palin’s Alaska
Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) continues to be debated.
NEA-Alaska will not be reporting on AGIA, members will get
inundated with information on that through the media. The
NEA-Alaska lobby team will continue to keep our focus on
NEA-Alaska priority issues.
SENATE FLOOR
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SB 123
The
Senate passed Committee Substitute for SB 123 (Finance)
today on a 17-0 vote. This bill is currently 54 pages and
119 sections and is designed to “fix” some of the problems
with SB 141. NEA-Alaska members know well that the biggest
problem not being addressed is that a Defined Contribution
(DC) plan does not work! There is a reason why Alaska is
the only State that offers a DC plan and no social security
to its public employees. They can fix SB 141 all they want
but until they revert back to a Defined Benefit (DB) plan
there will always be serious flaws. If you would like more
information on SB 123 please go to
www.legis.state.ak.us
Here you can enter “SB 123” in the bill root box and you can
get information such as the entire bill and the Governor’s
transmittal letter.
HOUSE
STATE AFFAIRS — HB 179
House State Affairs met Saturday and heard HB 179.
NEA-Alaska was on hand to testify in opposition to the
legislation. Rep. Mike Kelly from Fairbanks proposes this 34
page/71 section bill as another attempt to dump more of the
costs of retirement on to employees. This is the same Mike
Kelly that introduced legislation in 2005 to increase the
contributions for employees. Make no mistake, if
this unconstitutional bill is allowed to pass it would be an
immediate 5% cut in pay to all public employees.
Rep.
Andrea Doll offered an amendment to strip the 5% from
employees component and it passed the committee on a 6-1
vote. Please e-mail all members of House State Affairs
(except Rep. Coghill) and thank them for their vote
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
— SB
1
The
SCRA committee heard Senate Bill 1 (sponsored by Sen. Gary
Wilken – Fairbanks) and moved it from committee. Senate
Bill 1 as proposed by Sen. Wilken will increase K-12
education funding by $430 per student (approximately $89
million). NEA-Alaska and our members have proposed a Base
Student Allocation (BSA) of $5,953. This is an increase of
$573 per student (Approximately $115 million increase to
K-12 education). NEA-Alaska applauds Sen. Wilken for
beginning the discussion at a reasonable level. NEA-Alaska
was on hand to testify to the need of a BSA of $5,953 to
make strides towards adequacy over the next seven years.
Please send a message to Senator Wilken thanking him for his
efforts and to your senator asking them to amend Senate Bill
1 to a BSA of $5,953. A BSA of $5,953 will allow
schools to strive toward adequate funding and
to make up for some of the losses from 1983-2002. This bill
now moves on to the Senate Finance Committee.
BIRTHDAY WISHES
Today, the greatest kid ever turns 11 years old! Neillan
Chance Austin Alcantra was born on April 4th, 1996! He is a
5th grader at Sherrod Elementary in Palmer, AK. He is a
master Lego Builder, a boy scout, an honor roll student and
a good friend to many. He is a terrific son! Happy
Birthday Neillan!
The next LCS will be published on Tuesday, April 10th. If
you know anyone who wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative
Update, please send us an e-mail with their home e-mail
address if possible, and we’ll add them to the growing list
of K-12 education advocates!
Bill Bjork, NEA-Alaska
President
Lydia Garcia, Interim Executive Director
John Alcantra, Government Relations
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