By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor In a passionate address before a capacity crowd at the MEA Winter Conference last week, Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren) recalled her mother walking her up to the yellow school bus as her earliest memory from youth. Born in Thailand, Xiong immigrated to the U.S. with family at age three in […]
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Governor Whitmer’s 2025-26 budget recommendations were presented to the Legislature. This is the first step in the state budget process for the year, with the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate beginning work on their plans beginning later this spring. Here are the highlights for the school aid and higher education budgets: […]
The Democratic-led state Senate filed a lawsuit on Monday to compel Republican House Speaker Matt Hall to transmit House Bill 6058 and eight other bills to Gov. Whitmer for a signature as the state constitution requires for all measures passed by both chambers of the Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) held a […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor UPDATE FEB. 3: Today the Democratic-led state Senate filed a lawsuit to compel Republican House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) to follow the state constitution and transmit House Bill 6058 and eight other bills held in limbo to Gov. Whitmer for a signature. Read more. MEA member Kim Sandefur normally teaches […]
UPDATE JAN. 22: The state Senate adopted a resolution today authorizing Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) to bring a lawsuit against House Speaker Matt Hall to compel him to send HB 6058 to the governor for her review. Read more about this developing story. Schools across Michigan could soon see an exodus of […]
The new House leadership under Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) has yet to present House Bill 6058 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review. This critical legislation, passed by the Legislature last month, would rein in skyrocketing health care costs for teachers, school support staff and other public employees. The State Constitution clearly states that, […]
The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, in response to the Michigan Senate’s passage of House Bill 6058: “The Michigan Education Association applauds the Senate for passing House Bill 6058, which will help keep the best and brightest educators working in our […]
The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, in response to the state House’s passage of House Bill 6058 and the Senate’s approval of Senate Bills 1129 and 1130: “By taking swift action on this critical issue, the legislators have taken a critical […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor UPDATE (Dec. 13, 2024) — The state House passed House Bill 6058 on Friday, and it will now advance to the state Senate for their concurrence (the Senate approved identical legislation on Friday as well, but needs to concur on HB 6058 to send the bill to Gov. Whitmer […]
EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association today praised state lawmakers for approving a supplemental education budget providing $125 million in additional funding for school safety and student mental health, as well for passing legislation permanently ending the state’s 3% tax on public school employees. MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland […]
