Get the latest legislative information and how it will affect you.
Posted on 04/10/12 at 1:16pm
In the next phase of the continuing House battle over the immediate effect of recent legislation, the Court of Appeals issued a stay on an Ingham Circuit Court decision ordering House Republicans to stop ignoring Democrats’ demands for roll call votes on immediate effect.
Posted on 03/28/12 at 2:21pm
House Democrats have sued House Republicans to force them to recognize their requests for a roll call vote on the immediate effect of bills. House Minority Leader Richard Hammel (D-Mt. Morris Twp.), House Minority Floor Leader Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek), and Reps. Stanley (D-Flint), Meadows (D-East Lansing), Lindberg (D-Marquette) and Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) are plaintiffs in the suit.
Posted on 03/13/12 at 12:57pm
MEA members Karen Kuciel and Jeff Bean were part of the Protect Our Jobs campaign launch at the Capitol.
Today, MEA members Jeff Bean and Karen Kuciel joined with other workers to mark the launch of the Protect Our Jobs campaign, with the goal of amending Michigan’s constitution to protect collective bargaining rights and strengthen the middle class.
Posted on 03/06/12 at 5:59pm
Last week, a federal judge ruled that the new state law banning local governments from mandating project labor agreements (PLA) on public construction projects violates federal labor law. A PLA is an agreement between municipal officials or school boards and hired contractors which defines wages and hours and sets safety standards and skills training for workers.
Posted on 02/28/12 at 4:29pm
Members of the U.S. House Committee on Education debated amendments to two new ESEA reauthorization bills today—the Student Success Act (H.R. 3989) and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act (H.R. 3990).
Posted on 02/28/12 at 4:25pm
Gov. Snyder signed HB 4455 last week that allocates an additional $4 million to get Highland Park Schools’ students through the rest of the school year. However, the money does not go directly to the troubled school district. Rather, each student will receive $4,000 to either remain in Highland Park or go to another school district – a huge disruption midway through their academic year.
Posted on 02/09/12 at 4:42pm
Gov. Snyder presented his 2013 budget today, but while schools will see more money--there are strings attached. And it still isn't enough of a boost to make up for the $1 billion cut schools saw last year.
In a news release today, MEA President Steve Cook said, "Putting a fraction of that $1 billion back into schools doesn't fix the problems that such a massive cut caused last year--it only continues to enrich the corporate special interests who benefitted from the $1.8 billion tax cut that the education cuts enabled."
Posted on 01/30/12 at 2:41pm
More than 344 public and charter school districts across the state are already asking the Governor's Council on Education Effectiveness for exemptions from adopting a uniform teacher evaluation system by 2013. The deadline for filing was Nov. 1.
The Council is charged with making recommendations for a new state evaluation system that includes a student growth component. Now they'll also be deciding which school districts will be granted a waiver.
Posted on 01/19/12 at 3:19pm
Governor Snyder used much of his State of the State address to pat himself and fellow Republicans on the back for their efforts to reinvent Michigan last year. But his call to “finish what we started” lacked specifics—especially when it came to education.
Posted on 01/11/12 at 3:08pm
It would be in our best interest to monitor the "Right To Work For Less" (RTW) movement in neighboring Indiana since several Republican legislators have already said, "As Indiana goes, so goes Michigan." Indiana would be the 23rd state to impose RTW, which allows workers to benefit from negotiated contracts without paying their fair share.
In 1995, the Indiana Legislature passed a RTW law for teachers. The current proposal would expand to include all workers. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is leading the charge on the issue now with commercials. Hearings on the proposed bill are currently underway. On the first day of session, House Democrats protested the legislation by choosing not to attend sessions and denying a quorum for voting. Thousands are expected to protest at the Statehouse despite the imposition of new security regulations and capacity limits. In addition to other labor groups, the NFL Players Association has come out in opposition to the legislation--the Super Bowl will be played in Indianapolis on Feb. 5.
