Bad Deeds for 5-22-2011

 

Saturday Sneak Attack Would Hand Neighborhood Schools Over to Private Operators – State Rep. Mike Villarreal, Democrat of San Antonio, made a shockingly bad surprise amendment on Saturday afternoon to SB 738, a bill he’s sponsoring in the House that came over from the Senate in harmless form. In the guise of empowering parents, this bill as amended on second reading by Rep. Villarreal now would empower the state to hand over control of neighborhood public school to private operators. This last-minute surprise attack on local community control of schools needs to be stopped on third reading of SB 738 Monday. Please call Monday morning at 888-836-8368, ask for Rep. Villarreal, and tell him to pull down SB 738, this “parent trigger” bill. He may not be your representative, but his bad idea threatens community control of neighborhood schools in every major urban area of the state.

Though portrayed as a measure to deal with low-performing schools, Villarreal’s bill as amended would target even schools rated exemplary, if they happen to be in a district rated low-performing overall. This legislation invites abuses like those seen in California under a similar “parent trigger” law, where charter operators have run signature-gathering drives under the pretense of an “improve your neighborhood school” petition when in fact the fine print contains a call for total takeover of the school by a specific charter operator, with no further parent say in school operations.

With the Villarreal amendment attached, it would take only one more tweak to turn SB 738 into a “parent trigger” voucher bill like the one being pushed by the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in state after state across the nation. To see what we’re talking about, check out the model “Parent Trigger Act” on ALEC’s Web site.

 

One More Try at Gutting Class-Size Caps, Pay Standards, Contract Rights—Stop Them Again!
On Monday, 5-23-2011, some Texas legislators will try once more—for the umpteenth time this session—to gut class-size caps, cut teacher pay, and eliminate contract protections. It’s an all-out attack on educational quality standards. Let’s foil them again!

Please call the state capitol Monday morning at 888-836-8368. Ask for your state rep and urge a NO vote on any amendments, to SB 1581 or any other bill, that will raise class sizes, cut teacher pay, or remove contract safeguards.

 

Your Rights to Protest Permits to Polluters to Foul our air, Water, and Land Are in Jeopardy – The version of the bill to reauthorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). House Bill 2694, passed by the House is pro-polluter and includes amendments that would limit your rights as citizens to contest permits to polluters for air emissions, wastewater discharges, hazardous waste disposal, and other pollution. The Senate had passed a clean version of the bill.

Tell your House member that Texans need a “clean” TCEQ sunset bill that maintains your right to protect your health and property from pollution!

 

U.S. Senate Filibusters Liu – Yesterday, the Senate voted against giving Goodwin Liu, nominated to an important seat on the federal courts, the up-or-down vote that he deserves. Liu is highly qualified to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to which President Obama nominated him more than a year ago. The seat he is nominated to fill has been declared a “judicial emergency.” But, senators chose to play political games and prioritize partisan tactics over their duty to “advise and consent” on the president’s nominees. And in the meantime, the seat to which Liu has been nominated will remain empty and judges in the Ninth Circuit will continue to be overwhelmed with cases. The greatest injustice of this vote is to Americans who depend on the federal courts to enforce their rights and settle disputes. Courtrooms without judges are simply incapable of dispensing justice. Cornyn voted against allowing a confirmation vote on Liu; Hutchison was absent.

Call both of your senators at 202-224-3121.

Regards,

Jim