Up the Street
Maintenance of Effort Update
Legislative workgroups in the House
and Senate have agreed to meet together in advance of introducing legislation
that will address the broken maintenance of effort (MOE) law. This joint
meeting is an encouraging sign that MOE legislation can successfully navigate
through a busy and complicated legislative session. MSEA has shared our MOE
blueprint with workgroup members and hope that many of our provisions are
included in the legislation that should be submitted before the end of
February.
Truly Historic Night in Annapolis
as the Marriage Equality Bill Passes the House of Delegates
HB 438, the Civil
Marriage Protection Act earned 71 votes in the House of Delegates tonight
and passed. The House chamber is where a similar bill stalled last
year, so overcoming this step is a critical hurdle to secure passage of this
historic civil rights legislation during this year’s General Assembly
session.
Tonight’s vote is important to our
members who are in same-sex relationships as well as equally important to the
students in our schools who are the children of same-sex couples. All families
deserve the reassurance that comes from knowing that your family is respected,
safe, and secure.
We applaud the members of the House
who voted for social justice and civil rights for all. At the 2011 MSEA
Convention, delegates passed
New Business Item 16, calling on the association to support passage of the
Marriage Equality Act. The Association will continue our work on this
bill in the Senate and ensure it reaches the Governor’s desk this session.
We will share the roll call vote
(Ayes 71, Nays 67) on this bill in next week’s Up the Street. Of special note, however, is
recognition of retired teacher and former MSEA member, Delegate Wade Kach
(R-Baltimore County, District 5B). In advance of voting green, Delegate
Kach told his House colleagues that hearing from same-sex couples who showed
such love for each other and their children during the bill hearing changed his
vote on this issue.
O’Malley Unveils His Gas Tax
Proposal
The Maryland
Transportation Financing and Infrastructure Investment Act of 2012 (HB 1302/ SB 971) is the
O’Malley Administration’s gas tax proposal. Saying “we can’t keep kicking
the can down the road,” O’Malley argues for imposing the state’s 6 percent
sales tax to gasoline. His proposal phases in the sales tax at 2 percent
a year for three years. Once fully phased in, the administration projects
that the gas tax would raise $613 million annually.
The governor’s office reports that
the sales tax would be applied to the retail price of motor fuel, minus federal
and state taxes already included in the calculation at the pump. The
administration summarizes that a motorist driving 10,000 miles per year in a
car getting 20 miles per gallon would pay an additional $90 per year under
this proposal.
Race to the Top Update
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Bernard Sadusky presented to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental
Affairs Committee this week with an update on Race to the Top implementation,
No Child Left Behind waivers, and other matters of the State Department of
Education. Superintendent
Sadusky’s full presentation is available here.
What can you do?
- Educator Town Hall: Monday,
February 27 in AnnapolisThe Marc Steiner Show is hosting an Educator Town Hall in
Annapolis from 5-7 PM on Monday, February 27. RSVP today to
join the discussion at this important event with legislators and
policymakers!
- Statewide Call To Action:
Tuesday, February 28
On Tuesday, February 28, MSEA
members and education advocates are encouraged to call the MSEA legislative
hotline at 866-268-MSEA to be connected with their senators and delegates to advance our agenda
to protect school funding. Learn more about the day of action and the Do
Your Part campaign at www.marylandeducators.org/doyourpart