Republicans today called attention to the importance of effective teachers in improving student academic achievement and highlighted innovative, locally driven strategies to improve overall teacher quality and reward effective educators. Rep. John Kline (R-MN) offered remarks to open a hearing of the House Education and Labor Committee on “Teacher Equity: Effective Teachers for All Children.” Rep.... Read more »
The following op-ed was published online by the Star Tribune on September 30, 2009. As students throughout Minnesota settle into a new school year, area schools, like many around the country, are coping with the stifling effects of the recession. School districts throughout the state are facing multimillion-dollar deficits, and Minnesotans feel the pressure of financial shortfalls on our communiti... Read more »
The month of September marks the beginning of the school year for many localities across the country. And for the next year, the one person who will have more influence and input other than a set of parents into a child’s development will be a teacher. For those with a young child who is entering school for the very first time, you know these are the most crucial years for learning and growth. And... Read more »
We’re here today to explore how to ensure all children are taught by effective teachers. Study after study has shown that effective, knowledgeable teachers are among the most important factors when it comes to improving student academic achievement. High-quality teachers are more important than state-of-the-art facilities or factors such as the student-to-teacher ratio. Unfortunately, the question... Read more »
Even if Democrats eventually decide to jettison the unpopular card check component that sets aside the secret ballot for workers, the Employee Free Choice Act is still dangerous. That’s what a group of Hoosier business executives wrote in a Sunday essay for The Star Press in Muncie, Ind.: “Some have talked about removing the secret ballot provision of S560, but the other provisions are equally dam... Read more »
Has the House Democrat health care legislation become so toxic that members of the President’s own party are now denying its very existence? Apparently so. “During remarks this morning at the Finance Committee markup, there were references to the ‘House bill.’ Baucus quickly corrected the record. “‘There is no House Bill at this point,’ Baucus said. ‘There are committees looking at bills, I only s... Read more »
President Obama is on an important mission this week – and its success depends on the secret ballot. The irony is worthy of a gold medal: After all, the Employee Free Choice Act, which Obama supports, sets aside the secret ballot for workers. The Washington Post gives the play by play here: “President Obama has decided to travel to Copenhagen to support the Chicago bid team seeking the 2016 Summer... Read more »
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has concluded that concern among states about prevailing wage requirements has delayed implementation of a $5 billion weatherization program enacted through Democrats’ economic stimulus package. According to the GAO report, issued last week, “many of the states we reviewed reported that Davis-Bacon Act requirements—which have been applied to DOE’s Weatheri... Read more »
You can add South Dakota to the growing list of states that are taking a stand against the Employee Free Choice Act. Two state lawmakers said Thursday they will introduce a joint resolution preserving the secret ballot in South Dakota when the Legislature meets in January. If adopted, it will appear on the Mount Rushmore State’s 2010 ballot. The Argus Leader has the details here: “State Senate Maj... Read more »
The Employee Free Choice Act is probably not winning many supporters in Long Beach, Calif. – especially from tourists and business travelers who like a full night’s sleep. For more than two weeks, activists have been regularly protesting the local Hilton in an effort to organize the hotel’s workers through the public sign-up process known as card check – the centerpiece of EFCA. Lately, they have ... Read more »
