Just wanted to send out some quick info on issues that I thought you might be interested in!
REGIONAL SUPERINTENDANTS STILL WORKING WITHOUT PAY!
Governor Quinn made an irresponsible decision when he chose to use his line-item veto to zero out the pay for our Regional Superintendants of Schools in the budget. He wanted them all paid locally, instead of by the state, but rather than pushing for legislation to achieve his desired goal, he decided to play a game of political chicken with Michael Madigan by endangering the livelihood of all the men and women who were elected to this position. The regional superintendents are the ones who make sure that all of our teachers are properly certified and performing as expected, as well as making sure that our schools are in compliance with the onerous regulations that have been placed on our educational system by the federal government. These men and women campaigned for this office and were elected to the job, only to find that the Governor had eliminated their pay. Why do they keep going to work? Because if they did not, our teachers would not be able to maintain the licensing, etc. that is required for them to be in the classrooms teaching our children! If they abandon these positions to seek a job that will pay them as promised, our current educational system would not be able to function.
It was expected that the IL General Assembly would overturn Quinn's veto during the veto session in Springfield...that has not happened. Michael Madigan does not want them paid out of the fund that Quinn would like to see, so they are still working without pay. Madigan will not let Quinn strong-arm him like this and refuses to back down. The ball is now in Madigan's court.
Please take a moment to email Michael Madigan and demand that he do the right thing NOW and make sure that these committed men and women receive the pay that they have earned!
At our last meeting, we briefly discussed the 'Occupy' protests. I read the following statement and it was well recieved by our members. Many people are stating that we need to support this movement because they are against the bank bailouts and crony capitalism just like us. Here is the response from the SVTP:
There have been a lot of comparisons in the media about the Occupy Wallstreet protestors and the Tea Party. I keep hearing we have so much in common…even from some conservatives. I strongly disagree.
There are 2 key issues where we share frustration: the bank bailouts and crony capitalism. Both groups are adamantly opposed to both issues, but that is where the commonalities begin and end. Tea Partiers believe these problems should be fixed by a return to Constitutionally limited government—return the government to its original scope and you would eliminate the ability of special interests to receive taxpayer bailouts and special rules or exemptions. The overwhelming majority of OWS protestors want to destroy capitalism and replace it with…..what? Not too many of them will say, but you can be sure it will involve taking from one group to give to another. Many fail to see the hypocrisy of criticizing the bank bailouts while they demand their own bailout through mortgage or school loan forgiveness!
The protestors have a right to protest, but they don't have a right to occupy private property, litter, vandalize or storm into private businesses. How many Tea Partiers have been arrested at our rallies? Zero. How many OWS participants? Thousands. There are small groups in communities like ours who do respect private property and the law, but by standing in solidarity with those who do not, they are sending the wrong message. Wallstreet is not alone in bearing the guilt for where we are as a nation. Harrassing them and vilifying capitalism does nothing to fix our problems.
Another notable difference is media coverage. Peaceful, patriotic Tea Partiers were called racists, terrorists, maligned by the mainstream media and put on government watch lists! Who can forget Nancy Pelosi's tearful diatribe, "I've seen this rhetoric before"? Through her remarks, she alluded that Tea Partiers were violent, yet the media ignores the actual hate at the occupy rallies and portrays them as spontaneous, youthful and inspiring.
Tea Partiers love this nation, want to restore it, and make sure it remains the bastion of liberty and opportunity it has been since its inception. OWS occupiers want to cause chaos and disruption and to see everything this country stands for replaced with a system that has been proven to fail time and again.
For those who are tempted to throw your support behind the Occupy Wallstreet movement, remember the old adage, 'if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything'. Be careful who you stand with. If you value this nation, our Constitution and the rule of law, stand up for it, fight to restore it--don't join those who would rather pillage, destroy and fundamentally transform who we are!
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