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| Bad Budget Making its Way through the General Assembly A budget widely acknowledged to be bad for education and our students is making its way through the Kentucky General Assembly. On Tuesday the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee adopted a budget that many members of that committee criticized even as they were voting for it. Perhaps most pointed were the comments of Rep. Sannie Overly (D-Paris) who said she had a sick feeling of dread when she thought about the budget. Rep. Harry Moberly (D-Richmond) remarked that he hated to end his legislative career with a budget that moves education backward. On Wednesday the full House passed the budget, again with many members expressing the sentiment that “a bad budget is better than no budget at all.” With the end of the fiscal year and prospect of a state shut-down looming, legislators feel forced into a corner and compelled to adopt a budget, no matter how bad. Later today, KEA expects the Senate to take up the budget. This evening, we expect Senate committee action on the budget, with the House considering any Senate amendments on Friday morning. Final action by both chambers is expected sometime Friday. Legislators have all expressed their commitment to conclude the special session by Friday. Keep up with the latest development on the KEA lobbying team’s Facebook page (“Ky’s Education Advocates”) as things remain very fluid. |
| Health Insurance Funding Insufficient KEA has been exceptionally concerned about two issues regarding school employee and retiree health insurance. First, the original House and Senate budgets contained restrictions on how health insurance plans could be constructed. Secondly, and most importantly, the level of funding for insurance is far too low. While the budget includes modest increases, they are far below expected increases in medical costs, which range from 7%-10%. KEA made significant progress on the restrictions on plan design last Friday in a productive meeting with House leadership. As a result, those restrictions did not appear in the version of the budget passed by the House on Wednesday. Unfortunately, we have not made similar progress on funding levels, either in the House or Senate. |
| Please contact your state senator immediately to ask them to maintain the flexibility in plan design that is contained in the House budget. |
| School Funding Cut The House budget includes cuts in many areas of school funding. It seems clear that the Senate will not reduce any of these cuts. SEEK funding is stable for the next biennium, with a tiny increase in the SEEK base each year of the biennium. Increases in the SEEK base translate into different levels of support for each school district. Your school district’s finance officer should be able to provide you with information about the impact on your particular school district. Almost all other education programs will be cut an additional 1 1/2% in 2010-11 and an additional 1% in the next year. These cuts are on top of cuts in most of these programs that have happened over the last two years. |
Governor Beshear Signs HB 540
On Thursday morning Gov. Steve Beshear signed the bill in a Capitol ceremony. KEA President Sharron Oxendine and KTRS Executive Secretary Gary Harbin spoke at the ceremony. Sharron was joined by KEA’s lobbying team, including KEA-Retired President-elect Jon Henrickson who was instrumental in lobbying efforts on this bill. Sharron said, “This bill goes a long way toward the Commonwealth keeping its contract with us, with those who came before us and with the generations of teachers who haven’t yet entered the classroom.” |
State Rally and Local Activities Show Displeasure over the Budget
Before the session began, Third District Education Association leaders assembled and delivered care packages to help all their legislators survive the special session. On Tuesday night, hundreds of members of Upper Kentucky River Education Association rallied in Hazard. Other members across the state made contacts with legislators both before and during the session. Regardless of how and where members showed their support for a compassionate and adequate budget, legislators reported being contacted by hundreds of KEA members. The media reported on our activities, spreading to the general public the message of Kentucky’s school employees. The KEA lobbying team works incredibly hard on members’ behalf, literally from sunup to sundown and beyond on legislative days. But even these efforts are not sufficient if they are not reinforced by KEA members who live in and vote in legislators’ districts. The lobbying team is deeply grateful to our hard-working, dedicated members. |
| It’s Not Too Late to Tell Legislators What Your Students Need Even in the waning hours of the special session, legislators pay attention to messages from their constituents. So, watch the KEA lobbying team’s Facebook page (“Ky Education’s Advocates”) for up-to-the minute updates and call (800.372.7181) or email your legislators (via www.keepkentuckylearning.org) to let them know what you must have to assure your own financial security and your students’ educational security. |
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