REPORT FROM BONNIE MAXON:
The Monday evening presentation was informative compared to several years ago. There was talk of the Janus Court Case and the NYSUT Member Organizing Institute, which you can read about in this article on the NYSUT website. After the presentation and the PAC meetings there was the usual bar and snacks BUT this year there was a band that played until after 11 PM. We were also entertained by Andy, Jolene and many others singing with the band. Many of NYSUT staff attended and came around to introduce themselves.
Tuesday_ I went to Carrie Woemer’s meeting. She supports the tax cap increase and education funding but feels there will be no movement on the tax cap since it is Governor Cuomo's signature thing. The Governor is not open to any change or discussion on this.
She also feels public money is for public schools. The 529 accounts were set aside for college so students would not have debt, not for private high schools. She feels that a different account should be for the private undergraduate schools.
On APPR, she said she will co-sign a bill or write a letter to the Commissioner in support of our concerns.
There is a FOIL issue about disclosing to the public terms of any new collective bargaining agreement before it is voted on. It was explained to her and she said she will look into it.
In our meeting with Kathy Marchione, SD 43, she wanted to know if we discussed APPR with Carl Marcellino. She said that he is the one we should talk to about it. No commitment on her part.
As to the tax cap, she feels that 2% is 2% and it should not go lower. Also, she feels with the rising cost of health insurance it should not be included in the tax cap.
As to the 529 accounts, she will look into it. She supports mental health legislation and more school security.
VINCENT PELLICCIA:
I met with Carrie Woerner from the 113th assembly district which includes my residence in Saratoga Springs and my old district Schuylerville.
Carrie has become very knowledgeable about education issues. We brought up issues related to APPR, which will be changing soon, and she promised in our meeting that she would sign onto or sponsor NYSUT’s bill to make appropriate changes.
I discussed federal changes to the 529 which now allows withdrawals to be used for private or religious schools. I told her this may be a violation of the Blain Amendment prohibiting public funding of religious schools. She took a note and said this also undermines the original purpose of saving over a long period to reduce families borrowing for college and that if expanded, people will deposit and withdraw funds immediately for the tax deduction and may not fund it adequately for college. She was very astute.
She is currently interested in school safety and mentioned the bill just passed and that there is more to come.
I also met with Kathy Marchione of the 43rd Senate district including Saratoga Springs and Schuylerville. She also has become a great friend to education.
Besides being supportive of the previous issues, she is leading the fight on the tax cap and that 2% means 2%. She says she is swimming upstream, not only fighting Governor Cuomo but members of her own party. She also has become much more knowledgeable about education issues and is on the small government committee. She said that the current system does not allow school districts or municipalities to budget or plan ahead.
LORETTA QUIGLEY:
I had meetings with Jim Tedisco, Mary Beth Walsh, Carrie Woerner, and an aide of Pat Fahy
Tedisco was already well-informed & supportive of educational issues. His district includes urban, suburban and rural schools and he was clearly aware of the particular needs of the small as well as the large schools. Valerie & Audrey of the GCRTC were able to amplify the case for teacher centers, and Senator Tedisco took note.M
Mary Beth Walsh is relatively new to the legislature but, as a family court lawyer, has a deep concern for & knowledge of children’s issues. She is smart & sympathetic and, I feel, willing to stand with us if we keep her informed.
Carrie Woerner was open and attentive to our concerns. I’ve seen her on other occasions during the few years since her election and I think she has learned, so far, a tremendous amount about educational issues.
Pat Fahy's aide took notes and indicated the Assemblywoman was in agreement with our main points. The aide was unaware and made note of the information, however, that school security officers in a state funded program have been let go after the state funds were cut and the local districts didn’t have the funds to support them.
I felt the lobbying was well organized and executed. Kudos to those who oversaw it.
STEVE ZAHURAK:
I visited the following legislators or their aides:
Fahy (Kathy), Santabarbara (Jessica), Steck (Phil and Alison), McDonald (secretary), Woerner (Jerome) & Walsh (secretary)
I had polite responses and there was no controversy or negative discussions.