Go to Under the Dome at www.utea.org

Go to www.utea.org and click on the "More" directly beneath "Under the Dome". Click on the "ACT NOW/BILLS TO WATCH" link and send a message to your legislator. It is an easy process and it takes just a few seconds of your busy time. Just remember to do it at home not at your school computer. Things are hitting the floor quickly and we need your support. Two of the latest bombs are the possibility of the Republican Caucus supporting taking away the 1.5% 401 K contribution that all employees get and the possibility of cutting all of your Quality Teaching days. This is benefits and salary. Again the Republican caucus is trying to balance the budget on the back of the public school employees and students. Contact your legislators now to tell them to use the Rainy Day Fund, do more bonding, raise revenues, and include the benefits of the Federal Stimulus money. Act now or we will lose big.

Thanks Rick

Bad bills, Bad Bills, What ya gonna do...?

Sorry this is blog on the run. Check out HB 381 and SB 242 at the legislative website. You can access it from our www.ogdenweber.org uniserv site or www.utea.org

Contact your legislators not to impact the 2010 Public Ed budget. Read Kim Campbell's call to action and contact you representative or senator.

Last chance to enter for February. email rick@ogdenweber.org and write BAD BILLS in the message. We will draw for gift cards in the March OEA and WEA Rep meetings.

Thanks. got to go. Rick

Bad news from the U.S. Supreme Court

Just when you think the news could not get worse...The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the Idaho Education Association in their fight to overturn their "Voluntary Contributions Act" which prohibits Political Action Donations by their IEA members. If you remember, we went through the same thing a few years ago only to have the courts agree with us and overturn it in District Court. Now, with this decision, our own ability to deduct PAC donations could be in jeopardy. We have worked hard to build up our donations to help elect education-friendly legislators.

Stay tuned for more information.

Thanks Rick

UEA House of Delegates

The legislative group for the UEA meets in April and is called the House of Delegates. Representatives from each local travel to a location on a Saturday in April to vote on resolutions, new business items and possible changes to the UEA Bylaws and Constitution. Ogden/Weber UniServ is well represented each year. If you are interested in being part of this please let your leaders know. We elect our representatives each year. We are also getting close to our elections in both OEA and WEA. More info will be coming to you on the candidates. Both OEA and WEA are meeting to put together our negotiation packages for this year. If you have suggestions please contact us here or contact your building rep.

Thanks for all you do. Rick

SB 199 "Equal Recognition of School Parent Groups"

Sen. Bramble, R-Provo, has sponsored a bill, SB 199 that targets the PTA and other "dues paying organizations". Some see this as another bit of retribution for the State PTA's help in the anti-voucher movement. The PTA was vital in helping get signatures and help defeat the voucher law. Now, it seems that there are the target of this bill. The discussion of this bill at the State Board meeting Friday became heated according to Amy Stewart's Des News article this morning. (you can read the entire article at www.deseretnews.com Utah section "Sparks Fly Over Bill Cutting PTA Dues).

This is the type of legislation that we fight each year. The PTA is an important part of our coalition made of UEA, School Boards, Administrators and Superintendants that works to pass good legislation and defeat this type of retaliation.

Thanks for reading the BLOG. To enter the BLOG CONTEST please email rick@ogdenweber.org with the term "PTA" in the message. Thanks Rick

Down from the Hill

Hi, I came back to the office today. The big event on the hill today was the Sen. Chris Buttars issue. President Waddoups removed Sen. Buttars from Chair of the Judiciary committee. Short message today. Please go to www.utea.org and check out the Under the Dome comments and calls for action. You can also subscribe online there for messages. Have a great weekend. Rick

Educator on the Hill-Legislative Updates

Joan Heap, English teacher at North Ogden Jr. High, spent the morning at the legislature contacting her legislators and discussing the important legislation dealing with education. Joan met with other teachers and staff before going to the Capitol to send requests into the floor to speak to legislators. Joan had several good conversations with Sen. Christensen, Rep. Dee, Rep. Wilcox and others. The "Educator on the Hill" day is an excellent chance for you to be a part of the lobby team. Contact your local OEA or WEA leader if your are interested in attending. Only three weeks left.
Here are some of the important bills to monitor and then contact your legislators:

• SB 48 Teacher Competency Test is going to the House of Rep.
• HB 328 Performance Pay will be going to House Ed. Committee soon.
• HB 260 Orderly Termination of Teachers will start in the House.

Please go to the Legislative website at www.le/state.ut.us and look at these bills and check their status. Remember to not use your school computer for these contacts.

Thanks Rick