• New York State Government

• New York State Senate

• New York State Assembly

• New York State Division of the Budget

• United States Congress

• THOMAS: Federal Legislative Information

• New York State Board of Elections

Important Message―Fax Your Representatives: Visit NYSUT's Contact Your Elected Officials Page. :

NYSUT has prepared letters addressing a wide variety of issues important to public education. At your leisure, please fax each of these letters to your State and Federal Representatives. The system is designed to permit only 3 faxes to be transmitted at a time. Simply log-in again and continue to send the prepared letters.

NY State Senate Passed Bills that Could Devastate Education:  The NYS Senate delivered a one-two punch with passage yesterday of a budget bill that would largely carry forward the governor's $1.7 billion cuts to pre-k-through-12 and higher education, after also passing a bill last week that would establish a school tax cap. The Senate budget bill passed along party lines (D-32 R-29) and now goes to conference committee. With regard to the tax cap, Sen. Perkins, D-NYC, cast the lone vote in opposition. NYSUT has prepared letters/faxes to send to our represents regarding these issues. Members can weigh in by sending the following letter:

• Oppose the Senate Majority's Budget Resolution

• Restore K-12 Proposed Budget Cuts

As we send these faxes, the Assembly is expected to act on a budget bill that could restore $600 million in school aid, which is far short of what is needed to stop the devastation in our classrooms.

Jobs Outlook Depends Heavily on the Proposed Federal Education Jobs Fund:  President Obama has signed the HIRE Jobs Act into law, the first in a series of jobs-related bills. Please continue sending e-mails and faxes to our senators and representatives to urge them to include the Education Jobs Fund in any future jobs package. With massive cuts to education proposed by the state senate and governor, it is now more crucial than ever to emphasize New York's need for additional federal funding. Our voice already helped achieve the FMAP extension, which is essential to preserve jobs in health care and takes some pressure off the hemorrhaging state budget. A joint report by the State School Boards Association and School Superintendents forecasts up to 20,000 education jobs cut under the governor's and Senate's budget plans. The Education Jobs Fund included in the House's proposed Jobs for Main Street Act would assist in mitigating the layoffs. We need the U.S. Senate to include the Education Jobs Fund in its bill, as well. Go here to send NYSUT's action letter to your officials in Washington, D.C.

Our Voices Need to be Heard on ESEA:  Your participation in grassroots lobbying of congressional representatives in your home districts will be essential as NYSUT leaders and our national affiliates ramp up direct and intensive lobbying in the nation's capital to fix the significant problems with the proposed overhaul of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is now in the hands of Congress.

Continued Action on the Early Retirement Option:  NYSUT is seeking swift action on the 55/25 early retirement option legislation so that members will have time to consider their options. Urge your local members to go to the Legislative Action Center and send the action letter on this bill to state representatives. The legislation saw movement last week, passing the state Senate Committee on Civil Service and Pensions. The bill now moves to the Senate Finance Committee. The bill is scheduled to move out of the Assembly Committee on Government Employees this week. Keep watching the Leader site for updates.

Gap Elimination Aid Letter:  The Valley Central School District is scheduled to lose $3.6 million dollars in state aid for the 2010-2011 school year, primarily due to the governor's new gap elimination aid formula that unfairly punishes school districts that have been the most fiscally responsible throughout the years. In addition to the NYSUT faxes, we ask that all employees and community members send the following letter to each of their NYS Senate and Assembly representatives. This letter is provided in both PDF and MS Word formats and can be viewed and downloaded utilizing the following links. A list of state representatives with their addresses is also provided in both formats. If you are unsure who your senate or assembly representatives are, select Who Are My Elected Officials to look up your representatives by zip code courtesy of NYSUT. NOTE: A modified letter for out-of-district employees has also been provided that can be sent to Senate and Assembly representatives, as well as a modified letter that can be sent to Governor Patterson. Each elected official also has email that can be accessed on their websites that are listed below next to their picture. Finally, there is a website that will permit users to send free faxes at http://faxzero.com/.

• Gap Elimination Aid Letter―MS Word

• Gap Elimination Aid Letter―PDF

• Gap Letter for Out-of-District Members―MS Word

• Gap Letter for Out-of-District Members―PDF

• Gap Letter to Governor Patterson―MS Word

• Gap Letter to Governor Patterson―PDF

• Addresses―MS Word

• Addresses―PDF

Elected Public Officials

Fax or Email Your Representatives

Select this link to send a message to your national or state leaders from the NYSUT Legislative Action Website. We encourage you to ask your family and friends to utilize this service as well.

Committee of 100 Lobbying Agenda

Select this link to view details regarding NYSUT's message to NY State representatives as presented by your Committee of 100 on March 16, 2010.

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