email from VEA Teacher's Union BARF ALERT

[Gopher Broke]

October 9, 2008

Dear xxxxxx:

Two significant events have occurred regarding elementary and secondary education funding this week. In order of importance, the Governor released his budget cuts at an 11 a.m. press conference. Kaine's press release began:

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the official revenue reforecast, and immediately announced an executive spending reduction plan to meet the fiscal year 2009 shortfall. The Governor's plan reduces government spending by making operations more efficient and reducing the scope of some government programs, while protecting K-12 education and other critical government functions, like public safety.

Thankfully, P-12 funding was spared for the first year of the biennium. That's the good news. The bad news is that the projected shortfall for FY 2010 is $1.54 billion and P-12 Education will be on the cutting table.

President Boitnott issued the following statement to the press this morning:

Statement from VEA President Kitty J. Boitnott, Ph.D, NBCT October 9, 2008

We are deeply thankful that Governor Kaine has once again chosen to spare elementary and secondary education from budget cuts. Like his fellow governors across the nation, he is facing tough choices brought on in part by the national recession.

We are told that elementary and secondary education appropriations for the second year of the biennium will be on the chopping block. We well understand the reality of the commonwealth's balance sheet.

The people of Virginia need to know, however, that the national recession is not the only cause of this shortfall. The General Assembly has repeatedly cut taxes for the wealthy in recent years, and had these cuts not been granted, our balance sheet would look much different. I cite estate tax relief for those leaving more than $2 million and the expansion of the land preservation tax credit as examples. Just these two examples come to $680 million per biennium. In this time of crisis, we should look at all aspects of the budget - not just spending.

As parents and educators, these troubling times make us keenly aware of the highly competitive and global economy the next generation will encounter. Going into this recession, Virginia ranked 33rd in the nation in per pupil state aid (JLARC, 1/08). Let us take the long view, with our eye on the next generation, as we proceed.

Second, the Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding met on October 7th.

The subcommittee began with a suggestion from Delegate Hamilton that the meeting on October 22 be about possible reductions to the K-12 budget. He expressed a sentiment that the G.A. could not wait until January to begin making these choices. Delegates Cox and Joannou echoed those thoughts. There was some conversation about not attempting the strategies the House proposed last session in terms of salaries.

Senator Houck, who was chairing the meeting, said that it was important to get some basic information and began the meeting with an Overview of Direct Aid. One point that was brought out was that Direct Aid has not increased any faster than other areas of the State's General Fund. Committee staff provided information on possible options for reductions. There wasn't much discussion on those options. It appeared that the House members wanted cuts and that the Senate members were more cautious.

Please stay tuned. The economic tsunami is approaching the school house.

Thank you, Robley Jones

VEA GR

[WayneS]

Dear VEA:

You’re the morons who elected “Spock” as our governor. Now LIVE WITH IT!!’

Sincerely,
WayneS

[graywaiter]

Amen! Tim Kaine's eyebrows make him look evil in my opinion. They also got Jim Webb elected. Which was just what we needed, another Harry Reid disciple.

[WayneS]

Jim Webb?

Do you mean Senator Porno?

[concerned about politics]

Let us take the long view, with our eye on the next generation, as we proceed.

Google "Alinski Method".
Notice all the links for teachers. (If you don't know what this is, please read up on Alinski's "Rules For Radicals".)

This is how the schools are indoctrinating the children and getting away with it right before their parents eyes..
The kids are being used as tools for greater funding and a "higher" purpose. That's why academics can wait until after the socialist revolution.

Don't believe it? Google it. See for yourself.

[HossB86]

Watch him when he smiles... as a result, Mrs. Hoss and I have nicknamed him, “Governor Rat Tooth.”

:D

Hoss

[graywaiter]

Yeah, the void that got caught with a handgun in DC and had his staffer take the fall for it. Lowlife scum.

[TaxRelief]

Clearly an attempt to support Barack with “tax the rich” rhetoric. I wonder if anyone is allowed access to the teacher’s union email list to counter this type of nonsense.