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School Employee Health Insurance
AEA once again applauds House Speaker Robbie Wills (D-Conway) for his leadership in the effort to find additional funding for school employee health insurance. Speaker Wills and Senate President Pro Tem Bob Johnson (D-Bigelow) spoke yesterday at the Political Animals Club luncheon in Little Rock. They were asked about the school employee health insurance issue. In response to the question, Representative Wills said,
As reported in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Full disclosure, my mom and dad are schoolteachers. Bottom line is if we can’t fix this problem, we are going to have people move out of the teaching profession because they can’t afford to keep their family insured. That’s counterproductive to all the progress we’ve made in education. The $25 million figure is a goal. Let me tell you what that will do. That will keep premiums level for one year. I don’t know where [that money] is now. Most important to me is finding a long-term fix. We want to stop the bleeding for teachers this year….It’s a goal. When I latch onto a goal, I try to move heaven and earth to reach it. If it doesn’t happen, it’ll just be because it’s simply impossible. But I remain optimistic.” Unfortunately, Senator Johnson’s answer was, “I don’t think the money is there. I wouldn’t look for a quick fix.”
AEA members need to thank Speaker Wills for his leadership on this important issue. In addition, contact all members of the Joint Budget Committee and urge them to support HB 1413, the appropriation bill to provide an additional $25M for school employee health insurance. Go to www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Pages/CommitteeDetail.aspx?committeecode=005
for the list of all members of the Joint Budget Committee.
Employee Fee Choice Act
“No matter how strong the economic stimulus plan is, it will not result in broadly shared, lasting prosperity unless we also restore workers' freedom to join unions and bargain with their employers for a better life. That's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act – to turn around America's economy and rebuild the middle class.”
Employee Free Choice is legislation that is currently pending in the United States Senate. AEA President Dan Marzoni will be speaking at a press conference Monday about this important issue. Watch for more details next week.
For more information, visit the Employee Free Choice Act Web site at www.employeefreechoiceact.org
Arkansas Lottery
A draft of proposed legislation to implement the Arkansas Lottery was presented yesterday at a meeting at the State Capitol. A nine-member Lottery Commission is created, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tem. There are provisions spelling out the duties of the Lottery Commission, legislative oversight, ethical standards, and other provisions. A draft bill setting up the lottery scholarships will be released next week.
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