MEA-recommended candidates win
Members instrumental in election victories
You helped candidates with an MEA recommendation win big in Tuesday's election, including President-elect Barack Obama and a Michigan Supreme Court candidate who upset an incumbent justice.
Of the 103 candidates recommended by MEA from both the Democratic and Republican parties, 93 won. All candidates were screened by groups of MEA members as part of the recommendation process.
"Voters agreed that the candidates recommended by MEA members deserve to represent us on university boards, in the halls of justice, in the state House, in Congress and in the White House," said MEA President Iris K. Salters. "MEA members should be proud of this historic election. From volunteering to running for office to voting, we helped elect Democrats and Republicans to guide us forward."
Wayne County Circuit Court judge Diane Hathaway pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Michigan by unseating Clifford Taylor, the conservative chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
In other races, nine U.S. Senate and House candidates recommended by MEA won, including Democrat Gary Peters, who unseated incumbent Republican Joe Knollenberg.
In the state House, 71 of 79 candidates recommended by MEA won, including MEA member Jennifer Haase, an elementary school teacher from Warren Woods.
The two candidates recommended by MEA for the State Board of Education—incumbents Kathleen Straus and John Austin—were re-elected.
And, two candidates recommended by MEA for each of the governing boards at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University also were elected.
For a full list of results for MEA-recommended candidates, go to www.meavotes.org.
Anti-worker initiative may be coming to Michigan
Don't fall for the "Right to Work" scam
In 2008, Michigan may be the target of a scam ballot initiative called "Right to Work." Much like other deceptive ballot initiatives, this out-of-state proposal twists the truth, pretending to be about everyone's right to have a job. But its true intentions are simply an attack on workers' rights and unions.
'Right to Work' doesn't have anything to do with your rights to a job. All this law would do is allow workers to receive the benefits of being in a union without having to pay dues or agency fees. It forces unions to spend resources and members' dues on these 'free riders.'
Federal law already protects workers who don't want to be members of a union, but everyone must pay their fair share for negotiating and administering their contract—that's just fair. Read more.
Enrolled State Aid Bills
House Bill 4359 School Aid SFA Analysis of Conference Report (PDF)
Public schools will receive a small state funding increase this year. This Senate Fiscal Agency analysis provides an overview of the school aid bill, House Bill 4359.
House Bill 4359 School Aid HFA Transportation Formula (PDF)
One part of the state aid bill, House Bill 4359, is a new categorical for transportation costs. The bill establishes a formula based on population and geographic size, and then provides a per pupil categorical for transportation costs.
The formula requires the district to have 200 square miles or more and to have five or fewer pupils per square mile. For districts that meet these two tests, the state aid bill provides $33 per student for transportation. This document from the House Fiscal Agency shows the districts that qualify for the funds and the amount for which they qualify this year.
House Bill 4360 Community Colleges SFA Analysis of Conference Report (PDF)
Most community colleges will receive a state funding increase of between 0.9 percent and 1.1 percent this year. You may review a summary of the 2007-08 community college appropriations in a Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of House Bill 4360, which shows appropriations for each college.
House Bill 4350 Higher Ed SFA Analysis of Conference Report (PDF)
Public universities will see small funding increases this year. Most schools will receive 1 percent to 1.3 percent more in state appropriations. This document is a Senate Fiscal Agency analysis of House Bill 4350, the appropriations bill for higher education; it includes a list of appropriations by school.
2007-08 Foundation Allowance by District (PDF)
A listing of the funding increase that each district will receive in 2007-08 and the new per pupil foundation allowance for each district.
Updated: February 19, 2009 6:35 PM