SOS Michigan announces Legislative Agenda

 

SOS Michigan was at the Capitol Tuesday, February 16 to unveil its legislative agenda. The legislative agenda, which was supported by MASA at last week’s General Council meeting, calls for both policy and school funding reforms.

On the policy side, the SOS plan addresses cost-saving measures and collective bargaining reform.  The agenda calls for cost-saving measures like:

• Mandatory premium sharing for health care
• Cap on employer paid health care costs
• Increased employee retirement contributions
• PERA reforms like freezing automatic pay and benefit increases if contracts aren’t settled
• Increased enforcement for illegal strikes.

The funding reforms include changes to school finance laws that can be undertaken immediately as well as short- and long-term funding reform efforts to stabilize and protect School Aid Fund revenue. The school finance changes include:

• Automatic renewal of 18-mill non-homestead property taxes
• Expanded use of sinking funds
• Moving all tax collections to summer
• Restoring school funding to 2008-09 levels using short-term revenue increases including closing tax loopholes, a sales tax on services, freezing income tax rates and paying schools for the cost of unfunded mandates.
• Long-term, the plan calls for a comprehensive review and overhaul of school funding based on the results of the Citizen’s Research Council study currently in progress.

Districts called to take action

Now SOS Michigan is urging districts to take action in generating grassroots support for a balanced policy solution. Superintendents and boards are asked to visit www.SOSMichigan.org to read the SOS “Policies for a Stronger Michigan,” and then follow up with a grassroots campaign in their own communities. In addition to the position statement itself, district leaders will find talking points, sample communications, and tips on sharing this information with local media and stakeholders.

Next SOS Event:

Join us for the MASA/MASB Legislative Conference, “Bring the Fight to Lansing,” March 10, 2010. The conference will wrap up with a 1:45 p.m. march to the Capitol steps, to hear a call to ac­tion from SOS Michigan Chair, Tom White. Even if you can’t make the conference, join us for the march!

New Communication Tools Available

Visit www.SOSMichigan.org and view new sample letters, op-eds, and pieces published by districts. NEW this week: Talking Points for Superintendents

Kudos!...

...to MASA members spreading the SOS

• Marsha Wells, Portage
• James Hartley, Madison
• Mark Eckhardt, Charlevoix
• Steve Matthews, Grand Ledge

If you have a letter, op-ed, or column to share, submit it to lwacyk@gomasa.org.
Submit stories about how funding cuts are hurting your district at http://sosmichigan.com/stories.