Political Action & VOTE/COPE

Posts relating to politics and how it affects our membership, teachers and education.

Congress to Create a Commission to “Fix” Social Security

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From the Alliance for Retired Americans —

Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK) and John Delaney (D-MD) will introduce a bill this Congress to establish a commission that will propose changes to Social Security. These changes will likely include cuts to the program: raising the retirement age, reducing benefits for some individuals, using the chained CPI, and introducing means testing for beneficiaries. A similar commission proposed last year did not make it out of committee – but many in the Capitol believe that this year’s bill has a higher likelihood of passage due to the recent changes in House rules requiring long-term alterations to the Social Security program. Cole is Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

“We’re interested in finding real solutions to keep Social Security strong, but cutting earned benefits for hardworking Americans is not the answer,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

Social Security Legistlation …

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A message fromNYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale

Social Security legislation to be reintroduced in Senate U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced he will re-introduce the Strengthening Social Security Act when the new Congress convenes in January. Formerly championed by retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), the bill would extend the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund, on which nearly two-in-three Americans rely for income in their senior years.

With incoming Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, Social Security Works launched a campaign to gain U.S. Senate sponsors for the bill before it’s introduced next month. The goal is to have more co-sponsors for Brown’s bill than Harkin’s bill had last year. To ask U.S. Senate members to co-sponsor the legislation, follow the link on NYSUT Social Security Legislation web page.

RALLY IN ALBANY

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Governor Cuomo vetoed the teachers’ “Moratorium” legislation that would have placed a two-year moratorium on the use of Common Core tests in teacher evaluations. Ironically, the legislation was proposed by the governor and agreed to amid great fanfare last June.

In response, NYSUT Leadership has called for a rally prior to, and during the State of the State address on January 7, 2015.

The Regional NYSUT Office has reserved a coach bus (55 seats) to transport members and supporters to the rally. The bus will be leaving from the Suffolk Regional Office in Hauppauge with a tentative departure time of 7:00 a.m. and arrive in Albany around noon. The State of the State is scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m.. and the bus will plan to leave Albany at 3:00 p.m.

To RSVP for the bus, email Peter L. Verdon, Regional Staff Director, at [email protected], or call the Suffolk Regional Office at 273-8822 when it reopens on January 5th.

For more information on the legislation and the govenor’s veto visit the NYSUT website.

Governor Cuomo’s Attack on Public Schools

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Tell Gov. Cuomo to Crack Down on Misuse of Charter School Funding

Today, the Center for Popular Democracy and Alliance for Quality Education released a report titled Risking Public Money: New York Charter School Fraud that reveals vulnerabilities in the state’s charter oversight system that could potentially cost New York taxpayers as much as $54 million in charter fraud this year alone.

One charter school sent 49 staffers on a five day trip to the Bahamas. At another charter, the executive director and director of operations charged $75,000 to their school with no receipts or explanation for their charges. At yet another, former school officials and employees exploited weaknesses in their school’s internal control system and charged the school for goods or services totaling more than $95,000.

These are just three of many examples of charter fraud and mismanagement detailed in the report. We are standing with our partners to demand a moratorium on new charter schools in New York until necessary oversight measures are in place. Governor Cuomo loves to talk about cracking down on fraud, waste and abuse. So why is it that in Governor Cuomo’s Albany charter schools are getting away with it?

Please sign the petition now.