September 18, 2019 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association We often hear politicians say, “It’s about the kids,” and, “The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” If they truly believe that, they need to craft a state education budget that recognizes a simple fact: Not all students are the same. Unfortunately, the Republican education […]
If every student is going to get a great education, then we have to provide the funding so that every student gets the support they need. The Republican education budgets presented Thursday in legislative conference committee fail to do that. MEA members need to act now to tell lawmakers to reject this budget and advocate for […]
MEA President thanks Gov. Whitmer, Dem legislators for standing against GOP efforts to tie pensions to road funding debate EAST LANSING — In a letter today to Democratic legislators, MEA President Paula Herbart thanked them and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for strong stances against GOP-backed “Pensions for Potholes” schemes. “While I’m not shocked, I’m certainly dismayed […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ventured into the Jackson County turf of Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) on Thursday to illustrate the struggles schools are facing without a state budget and press Republican leaders to put real solutions on the table.
MEA members, This morning, I received a letter from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that I thought you should all see: As a new school year is upon us, I wanted to reach out and tell you again how much I respect and appreciate the hard work you do on behalf of our kids. Preparing our students […]
MEA President Paula Herbart used her monthly “Labor Voices” column in The Detroit News to slam various schemes being floated by Republican leaders in the Legislature to bond, restructure, or reamortize the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System. A pension is a promise of a secure retirement, she writes, but too often in Lansing pensions […]
During her keynote speech at MEA’s Summer Conference last week, MEA President Paula Herbart blasted the so-called “pensions for potholes” scheme and urged public school employees across the state to raise their voices to oppose the risky shell game. Add your voice today—Contact your lawmakers using our Action Network page! By many accounts, including by […]
Serving as a state representative isn’t much different from being an elementary school teacher, according to educator-turned-lawmaker Lori Stone (D-Warren), who told her story to attendees at MEA’s Summer Conference last week. The 14-year classroom veteran and MEA member said every legislative session starts with the pledge of allegiance. Seats are assigned. “And I still […]
EAST LANSING – MEA President Paula Herbart blasted the so-called “pensions for potholes” scheme today, and urged public school employees across the state to raise their voices to oppose the risky shell game. By many accounts, including by some conservative economists like Patrick Anderson, the reckless road funding scheme is irresponsible. Raiding pension funds for road […]
While the Legislature has been off for nearly a month on their summer break – despite next year’s state budget being unfinished – concepts continue to float around the Capitol about how to pay for needed road repairs. The latest bad idea involves various ways of borrowing against school employee pension funds to fill the […]
