Surveydaddy
Check out Surveydaddy, the most easy-to-use survey software around. Start creating beautiful online surveys today.
Create an Online Survey
Posted 2 years ago.
See this poll on: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/02/shou…
Ironically, KP, Rep. Knollenberg DID PROPOSE ENDING LIFETIME HEALTH BENEFITS FOR LEGISLATORS BACK IN MARCH 2007 - three years ago. He renewed that proposal in Jan. 2009 at the beginning of the new session. He is consistent on this issue and I appreciate the point that legislators should walk the walk and lead by example - but that issue has nothing to do with the rightness or wrongness of this bill and doesn't mean both reforms shouldn't be adopted.
Also, as to "picking on individual groups," HB 4665 is the bill at issue here, but its sister bill proposed at the same exact time is HB 4666, which bans bad administrator expenditures. If identifying unnecessary or inappropriate use of taxpayer expenditures is "picking on" a group and divisive, then so be it. But Knollenberg's proposals are equal opportunity - more money to the classroom. If that's what everyone, including teachers really want, then everyone has to look for ways to make that happen. He won't avoid identifying reforms just because someone benefitting from something says their picked on.
Finally, saving money whereever it can be saved is an appropriate way of protecting jobs and taxpayers - but there are a number of reforms worthy of adoption and the fact that others should be adopted too isn't an excuse to not adopt this one. For example, Knollenberg has a bill the Governor herself endorsed last night to move the budget to July 1 to make school planning better. We could adopt it tomorrow if Knollenberg's bill were brought to the floor. The Gov. also endorsed the ending of lifetime legislator benefits. Let's move on all the good ideas.
I believe that this item is part of negotiations between the local bargaining unit and the board of education. Many crisis are prevented because the association President is able to deal with issues that come up, in a very timely manner. Many problems are solved on a daily basis and are best handled at the time they occur. Doesn't the State have enough controls already on public education, they control the purse strings already. The legislature should be working on ways to bring people and jobs back to our state. We have gone from a high of 21 electoral votes to 17 in the latest presidental election. We need people to return to our fine state and find a way to get more people employed. It seems to me that this goal is more admirable than always trying to pick away at teachers.
Once again the big picture is ignored.....our representitives need to change the whole tax system in Michigan, this is how we will solve our budget problems. This has been reccomended by numerous 'experts' republicans and democrates. Picking on individual groups to solve a collective problem is not productive and very devisive.
Representative Knollenberg should leave this to the local districts to decide. It is not a state issue. If he really wants to save money for the State, he should be proposing that all (including current) legislators should not have LIFETIME health care after serving only 6 years. He should also be proposing a PART-TIME legislature in the State of Michigan. There are only 4 other states that have full-time legislature. Michigan's budget issues are out of control and the legislators are always going after public school employees and state employees but NEVER THEMSELVES! So, if he really is concerned about saving money for the State, the legislators need to look at themselves and propose a part-time legislature and eliminate lifetime health care for themselves!!
More unnecessary legislation from Lansing on an issue best left to the local school boards that negotiated it in the first place. Doesn't Representitive Knollenberg realize there is a budget crisis in this state that needs real solutions not publicity stunts like this one.
Amazing how Republicans cry to much government by the President, then turn around and suggest government impose itself in a matter like this. Just union busting. If the school district sees it unnecessary then the school district needs to take action, not government. Not saying the current practices are right either, but it doesn't need to be handled by big brother.