Arizona Education Association

Winter 2012/13

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AEA is organizing to ensure the loss of the penny sales tax revenue does not negatively impact the good work our teachers and educa- tion support staff are doing in our schools. The AEA bargaining and organizing conference on December 8 will provide the tools and re- sources to help local associations. Please check with your local president if you are interested in attending this conference. Those who opposed Prop 204 told voters to "trust the legislature," and Arizona's voters, for right or wrong, have done so. Should the legis- lature and Governor Brewer fail to honor that trust, our students and colleagues will suffer. We as public education stewards cannot be content to trust; we must act. Arizona's parents, teachers, education support staff, and commu- nity and business leaders are ready to sit down with the Governor and create a plan that invests in our schools, communities, and future. 2 Obama Re-Election Is a Victory for Public Education NEA President Says Voters Showed Support for Students, Middle Class Students and children scored major victories throughout the United States on November 6, as voters took to the polls and made their point: it's time to focus on what's important here at home. Arizona voters elected friends to public edu- cation, Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva to Congress. At the time of publication, the races for Ann Kirkpatrick, Ron Barber, and Kyrsten Sinema all held a close lead in their races, but were still too close to call. "President Obama's re-election is a victory for students and their educators," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "Americans have spoken and they've chosen to continue mov- ing forward. Voters made clear that they value public education, workers' rights, health care, women's rights, and a strong middle class." Over the past four years, the Obama Administration fought to keep class sizes small and protected more than 400,000 educator jobs. He also doubled investment in scholar- ships and financial aid so more middle and working-class families can realize the dream of a college education. "Throughout the campaign, the President pledged to invest in education – especially in early childhood education – and to make higher education more affordable," said Van Roekel. "He and his congressional and gubernatorial colleagues also promised to protect women's rights and rebuild the middle class from the inside out – and that obviously resonated with voters, especially educators." In addition to President Obama's reelec- tion, friends of education were elected in key Senate races across the country. Senate victories in Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania – and especially in Ohio, where worker's rights issues have ignited political firestorms over the past two years – sent a clear message to anti-union, anti- public education forces: middle class Americans are fed up with the attacks on their rights. In addition to the Senate victories, friends of public education are also celebrating a guber- natorial victory in New Hampshire, as well as gains in state legislatures throughout the United States and several ballot measure successes. "What this says is that voters were paying attention," said Van Roekel. "Instead of stand- ing by and watching their rights being trampled on in their states, voters from all backgrounds stood up and said, 'my family is important, too.' It will be our job to remind other lawmakers of this significant mandate." Educators – 74 percent of whom are women – played a key role in these victories. NEA members live in every state, in every Congressional district, and in every precinct, and one in every 78 voters is a NEA member. NEA was the first union to endorse President Obama for a second term, and nearly 500,000 NEA members signed up in some way to be involved in the Obama for America campaign. "From day one, NEA members have sup- ported President Obama and his vision for America and public education. And over the past two years, they worked tirelessly on behalf of America's public school children," said Van Roekel. "I'm confident our three mil- lion members will continue to work with the President and other elected officials to fix the financial mess we inherited while protecting core American values like public education, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security." "That work begins tomorrow. Tonight, we will celebrate," he added. 2 AEA Advocate x Winter 2012/13 7 AT THE CAPITOL "Throughout the campaign, the President pledged to invest in educa- tion – especially in early childhood education – and to make higher education more affordable." – NEA President Dennis Van Roekel

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