Polk Education Association 730 East Davidson Street Bartow, FL 33830 Phone: 863-533-0908 Email address: Polk@Floridaea.org
| Jobs Bill on the Line! ACT NOW!Breaking News
early voting begins august 9
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This is an education jobs EMERGENCY and Congress needs to act NOW! In the Senate, the “Keep Our Educators Working Act (S.3206)” by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) now has 27 co-sponsors. In the House, Representative Obey (D-WI), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, is working to include education jobs funding in an emergency supplemental appropriations (funding) bill. E-Mail your Senators and House members and urge them to vote for the jobs bill when it is offered!
Senator Bill Nelson billnelson.senate.gov Senator George LeMieux lemieux.senate.gov District 5—Virginia Brown-Waite Web: http://brown-waite.house.gov/ District 12—Adam Putnam Web: http://adamputnam.house.gov/ District 15—Bill Posey
Final Retirement Update - 2010
On, Friday, May 28, 2010, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed HB 5607, a proposal to reduce the annual interest rate for those state workers who enter the Deferred Retirement Option Program on or after July 1, 2010. Crist said his decision to veto HB 5607 -- which would have lowered the annual the DROP accrual rate from 6.5 percent to 3.0 percent -- was because it surfaced late in the session and should not have been "rushed through the process.” Thank you to the hundreds of PEA members that sent e-mails, letters, and made calls to protect our retirement benefits! We made our voices heard and Gov. Crist responded with an appropriate veto. Our state affiliate, FEA, was in the Capitol fighting for you every day of this tumultuous session! On May 13, 2010, FEA President Andy Ford sent Gov. Crist a letter requesting that the Governor veto HB 5607. HB 5607 was a bill that surfaced during the final hours of the 2010 FL Legislature and was never discussed in any Committee hearings, a point that Gov. Crist raises in his veto letter regarding HB 5607. The actions of teachers, support staff and other men and woman covered by the FRS system caused the Governor to take action and veto HB 5607. He listened to the people he represents! With Friday's veto of HB 5607 by Gov. Crist, this means that we successfully defeated every last one of the 30+ bills and proposals introduced during the 2010 session of the FL Legislature that would have reduced retirement benefits for public school employees and retirees. PEA/FEA members, Police, Firefighters, and retirees across the state worked diligently, relentlessly, tirelessly, -- SUCCESSFULLY -- to make their voices heard, and so -- victory is ours!
In Solidarity, Marianne
contact governor crist to say thank you
Plaza Level 05 The Capitol 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Charlie.crist@myflorida.com Phone - 850-488-4441 or 850-488-7146 FAX 850-487-0801
READ the Governor's Letter to Secretary of State Browning as to why he VETOED SB 6.
contact senator dockery to say thank you
contact Senators and Representatives that voted NO on SB 6 to say thank you
Who voted 'NO'? Click here
pea Press RElease Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Polk Education Association (PEA) is gratified that Governor Crist listened to teachers, support staff, administrators, school board members, parents, and students, and put an end to this latest debacle by vetoing Senate Bill 6! We encourage all the citizens of Florida to thank Governor Crist for his courageous stand against the very powerful special interest lobbyists and politicians who would trade the welfare of our children as a political tool in Tallahassee.
We should remember to thank our Democratic legislators and those brave Republican legislators who stood up to this powerful political machine. Also, our Superintendent and several of our local School Board members were active in their opposition to Senate Bill 6. Our particular support, though, should be for those eleven Republican House members and five Republican Senators, including our own Paula Dockery, who took the time to listen and understand the concerns from those most knowledgeable about our schools; students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and our local School Board members. These brave Republicans may now face retaliation and retribution during the remaining days of Session and during elections in the fall from their party leaders who believe they should not have the freedom to represent our local voices!
PEA wants to also thank the many school employees, school board members, community members, parents, and even students who took the time to voice their concerns regarding this short sighted and mean spirited approach by the favored special interests and the power brokers within the guise of the Republican Party. We do not believe this approach is reflective of the many fine people who are the backbone of this respected party. We have all heard and seen the reports about the many rallies, as well as the thousands of phone calls, e-mails, and letters that were sent regarding this issue. This was a true public outcry against a bad idea promulgated by powerful politicians in Tallahassee.
PEA is aware that the need for true education reform has not gone away. We encourage the awakened public to join with our local practitioners and help us work with those elected statesmen who saw the problems and voted against this terrible bill. It is time to develop true educational reform. In the meantime, we encourage the legislature to adequately fund our schools instead of simply adding unfunded mandate after unfunded mandate!
Mostly PEA just wants to thank Governor Crist, the Representatives, and the Senators, particularly Paula Dockery, who stopped this Bill, as well as, the thousands of teachers, support staff, parents, our Superintendent, our Board members, and others who took the time to speak out against this Bill!
pea election results The Polk Education Association Elections Committee, Chair, Melinda Riddle, announced, "The ballots are counted and the results are in. Marianne Capoziello has been re-elected as PEA President with 591 votes to Paul Myrick’s 120 votes. The term of President is for 3 years ending June 30, 2013.” "I want to thank the members that voted for me," stated Marianne Capoziello. "We must all work together to fight for public education." |
