MCCC Legislative Priorities for the 2009 - 2010 Legislative Session

FROM
 Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair
Email:
SAC June 14, 2010
Dear Colleagues,

Public higher education funding is in jeopardy. Please note the two related political actions requests below and their related deadlines. Time is of the essence if we are to preserve state and federal support for our colleges and universities in MA. Also note a third request for GPO/WEB members to provide public commentary to a newly created National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility.

State House Budget: Public Higher Education Funding in Jeopardy
Urge State Legislators to Support Senate budget proposals on funding & CC Study:
Contact your Senators in Congress to fund education jobs:
The NEA has issued a national alert asking educators to contact members of Congress to support a federal jobs bill aimed at sending millions in aid to states to preserve educator jobs. Note these concerns and related issues:
Your actions today could make a difference in our higher education funding support - or lack thereof - in the year ahead. The more emails and calls our legislators receive the more likely we are to be successful. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Julie Johnson, our MTA higher education lobbyist,  at 617.878.8315. or jjohnson@massteacher.org.

Thank you.

Donnie
SAC May 13, 2010

Dear MCCC Colleagues,
 
I know the end of the spring semester presents many challenges to all of us as we finish with grades, support student awards ceremonies, and ready students and the college for upcoming graduations, so my thoughts are with all of you in the important work that engages you at this time.
 
Please note the SAC news below, the registration deadlines for future events, and the important political action that is needed immediately on the Harkins Jobs bill in the Senate.
 
MTA Annual Meeting Election:
Thanks again to all who attended this meeting and supported my candidacy for the MTA Executive Committee in so many different ways. Though Max Page won the election, key issues were raised about our community colleges and public higher education that will not easily be ignored. Since I will retain my seat on the MTA Board, I will continue to speak out for our campuses and for all of you in the year ahead.
 
Act Now to Support Educators' Jobs:
Since state funding for education is at an all time low, I am repeating an earlier political action request of all of you: Please contact your U.S. Senators, so that federal monies regarding S 3206 (the Keep our Educators Working Act) can be used to support state educators. The State Legislature is proposing a 4 percent cut for pre-K - 12 and 13 percent cut for higher education, so your calls are most important. This legislation  would provide almost $500 million to save jobs, and Senator John Kerry is an original co-sponsor of this bill.
Greenfield, Holyoke, Mt. Wachusett Educators: Meet with Your Legislators 
On May 18th at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center in Northampton, MTA educators from public schools and colleges are meeting with legislators from the districts serviced by the Holyoke MTA office. Be there to let legislators know that our schools and colleges, our students, and public educators need their support. For more information or to reserve a dinner and seat at this table, call 1.800.432.1117 or 413.535.2415. Or email csbaird@massteacher.org/akelley@massteacher.org
 
PHENOM Annual Meeting - June 5, 2010, at WSC:
Ferd Wulkan, PHENOM's Organizing Director, invites all of you to attend this event: "Please help shape PHENOM's future at our Annual Meeting Saturday, June 5 at 5 PM at Worcester State College (Blue Lounge, Student Center 1st Floor).  PHENOM members will evaluate our work, plan for the fall election campaign and the rest of the year, debate and vote on any bylaw amendments and PHENOM's budget, and elect a new Board."  RSVP to reserve a spot (and dinner!): massphenom@gmail.com
 
Sign up for MTA's Williamstown Conference:
Each year dozens of MCCC members go to Williamstown in August to attend summer workshops and relax in the beautiful Berkshires at an MTA conference that has something for everyone. Join friends and colleagues from across the state for informative and energizing workshops with education and labor experts. Please note the MTA Williamstown brochure that was mailed to you, and the email from Phil Mahler that your chapter president distributed to you.  Each chapter can send up to 3 members and possibly  more. Contact your chapter president ASAP in order to qualify for MCCC funding. Go to the MCCC website for many more details: http://mccc-union.org/Williamstown2010/index.html
 
ORP Update:
I have been meeting with and in close contact with MTA's Higher Ed. Director Arthur Pippo, State House Lobbyists, and a private tax attorney to finalize the language on the ORP bill (1173). The attorney has reviewed the bill and sees no conflict with the current Internal Revenue Code. Please stay tuned as we move forward very soon with a full-scale lobbying effort. I will be sending out a notice this week for a possible ORP Ad Hoc meeting to activate and organize this lobbying effort. If we want this campaign to succeed, we must work to get every interested ORP faculty in this state involved.
 
Higher Ed. Contracts Campaign:
Best wishes for a quieter month ahead - and for some well-deserved time off in the near future for all of you.
 
Donnie
 
Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair
SAC April 21, 2010
Dear MCCC Colleagues,
 
As noted in the email below, if the House Ways & Means Committee has its way, public higher education is about to be cut by nearly 13%. Our colleges and our programs, our faculty and professional staff, and certainly our students simply cannot absorb this cut. None of us are able to do more with less. Contact your State House Representatives today, tomorrow, or Friday at the latest. Let them know that our community colleges need their immediate support. The proposed House Ways & Means Budget will be discussed in detail next week.
 
Contact your Representative:
Ask your representative to do the right thing by supporting the three recent budget amendments submitted to the House Ways & Means Committee by our newly formed higher education caucus at the State House. One will restore funding to our campuses (#704); another will increase financial aid to students (#763); and a third will restore the tax on unearned income to 12 percent (#323).
 
Ask House members to support the Governor's revenue options to help close the budget gap. Let them know they have a choice and that you will back them. See the email below for more details, but please make these calls this week. The best way to contact them is by phone, or send an email, then follow this up with a phone call and ask to talk with a legislative aide.
 
Contact information for Representatives:

To find out who your State Representative is, go to: http://www.wheredoivotema.com
To send an email to your representative, go to: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm
To reach your legislator by phone, call the main State House number (617-722-2000) and ask to be connected to your legislator. 
See the PHENOM email below for more details. Your actions today are most important.
 
Thank you,
Donnie

Diana (Donnie) McGee
MCCC Vice President & SAC Chair

PHENOM Banner

The budget released April 14 by the House Ways and Means Committee cuts funding for higher education by $135 million (12.6%).  This would most likely mean massive fee increases, layoffs, and program cuts.  It would be devastating for our campuses.  We need everyone to contact their State Representative immediately to ask them to co-sponsor amendments that have been filed by members of the Higher Ed Caucus to try to avoid this scenario.  The deadline for co-sponsoring is this Friday.  [If your Representative is one of the sponsors of any of these amendments, please thank him/her.]
Amendment #704 will restore funding for the campuses to FY 2010 levels as proposed by the Governor (sponsored by Reps. Rodrigues, Garballey, Kocot, Fernandes, Kane, Sullivan, Aguiar, Falzone, Richardson, Smizik, Fox, Puppolo, Grant, Scibak and Guyer).
Amendment #763 will add an additional $5 million to the financial aid budget (sponsored by Reps. Garballey, Kocot and Fox).  We are confident the Department of Higher Ed will prioritize MassGrant in its allocations.
 
Amendment #323, sponsored by Rep. Patrick, would restore the tax on unearned income to 12% (what it used to be before the tax cutting frenzy of recent years). PHENOM has joined a growing coalition of organizations under the One Massachusetts umbrella to generate additional revenue for the state in a progressive manner.   
 
PHENOM, MTA's Revenue Enhancement Committee, and One Massachusetts are asking the Legislature to back the following revenue options:
 
Support the Governor's Revenue package in House 2:

Cap the Film Tax Credit for one year to save $75 millio
Limit Life Sciences Tax Credits by $5 million
Repeal the Aircraft Sales Tax exemption ($4.5 million
Remove the sales tax exemption for cigars and smokeless tobacco ($15 million
Support a sales tax on candy and soda ($51 million)
Restore the tax on dividends and interest to 12 percent, with provisions to exempt moderate-income seniors (+/- $500 million)
Advocate for transparency and accountability measures advance by Revenue Committee chairmen Ben Downing and Jay Kaufman and Gov. Patrick

You can see the full text of amendments at http://www.mass.gov/legis/11budget/house/am_list501-869.htm.
 
SAC Update February 10, 2010

Good News: The ORP bill (1173) moves forward!

Dear MCCC Colleagues,
 
Thank you for your great work in lobbying legislators, organizing your colleagues, and contacting the Chairs of the Public Service Committee in support of S 1173. The bill was moved out of the Committee Monday afternoon with a favorable recommendation. The bill is expected to be in the hands of the Senate Ways & Means Committee in the next few days.
 
Please stay tuned and be ready to take action for the next leg of this journey. When the time is right, I will be asking everyone to contact Senators and lobby the Senate Ways & Means Committee. I will be meeting with several legislators before that time. The MCCC ORP Ad Hoc Committee will also be meeting to talk strategy during the week of Feb. 22nd. The date of that meeting will be confirmed this weekend, and you will be notified. Please be sure your chapter is represented at that meeting.

Thank you.
SAC Update January 18, 2010
Please see this page for an urgent appeal for help with the Optional Retirement Plan Issue

SAC Update November 22, 2009

The following report provides an update on MCCC supported legislation and related strategic issues.
 
The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Campaign to enact SB 1173:
After a successful lobby day and hearing on S 1173 before the Joint Committee on Public Service, ORP and SAC Committee leaders have contacted colleagues about the ORP bill and joined their ORP-enrolled faculty in lobbying the Public Service Committee members to report this bill out favorably. This bill would provide faculty enrolled in the ORP the opportunity to join the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and buyback creditable service in this plan.
 
The bill is expected to be reviewed by the Committee in December. If they have not already done so, ORP faculty and their colleagues are asked to contact their legislators to educate them on the merits of this bill, find out legislators' positions, and urge those who support this bill to contact the Chairs of the Public Service Committee to push this bill forward on its legislative journey. Though many legislators have shown support for the bill, not all have been informed or are ready to act, so it is imperative that emails and calls to legislators and the chairs of this committee continue until the bill moves forward. I have attached a sample ORP faculty letter/email to legislators.
 
Adjunct Faculty Bills - Pension ( S1082) and Health Insurance (S 1143):
Both of these bills would provide much needed benefits to adjuncts who, in the course of a calendar year, teach the equivalent of 12 credits or more at one or more of the public colleges or universities in Massachusetts. Both bills have been heard before the Public Service Committee and await further review. Adjunct faculty and their colleagues should contact their state legislators and urge them to support these bills. If so inclined, legislators should be asked to contact the Chairs of the Public Service Committee to report these bills out with a favorable recommendation.
 
Reversing Faculty Hiring Practices (H 1110):
This bill establishes a goal that by the year 2015, 75 percent of courses at public colleges and universities be taught by full-time faculty. This bill was heard before the Joint Committee on Higher Education on 9/29 and is awaiting further review. The concept of this bill is one that MCCC supports, but the language in the bill needs clarification if it is to be applied to all courses taught at our community colleges. I will be meeting with legislators and the key sponsor of the bill to address both the intent of this bill and any language adjustment that might strengthen the bill's application to our current hiring practices.
 
Retiree Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) bill (H 2487):
This bill would increase the base amount for retiree COLAs from $12,000 to $16,000 and gradually increase the COLA base amount each year until it matches the COLA base used for Social Security recipients. Upon retirement, these increases will be very important to each of us, so let your legislators know that you want this bill moved out of the Public Service Committee (where it now sits) with a favorable recommendation.
 
Pension Commission Report:
Proposals from this commission were discussed at an open hearing on 11/9/09 at the State House. Many of these proposals would not affect current membership, though some might. Do note, however, that this report was framing its conclusions as "proposals" - not  "recommendations." MTA and MCCC will remain vigilant and work to protect the pension benefits of all members, current and future. The MCCC also does not want to see any more tiers in the state employee pension system that would impact our union. MCCC leadership will keep you informed on these issues, as is appropriate, and keep you apprised of any related lobbying action that might be needed.
 
A positive emphasis in this report is the Commission's conclusion that a defined benefit plan (SERS) is preferable to a defined contribution plan (ORP). The report state that a plan like the SERS is cheaper for the state given current legal constraints and typically provides for greater retirement security for employees. This is an important point for ORP faculty to emphasize when they ask legislators to support the ORP buyback bill. If you would like a copy of this section of the report, please email me.
 
Joint Committee on Revenues:
Chairmen Jay Kaufman and Benjamin Downing implemented a statewide listening tour to get feedback from community leaders, educators, and others regarding ways to fund the needs of the state and identification of preferred revenue sources. Thanks to the following SAC and Chapter leaders who participated in these meetings: Dale LaBonte from QCC, Tiffany Magnolia from NSCC, and Liz Recko-Morrison from BeCC.
 
MTA's State Revenue Enhancement Committee:
The MTA has established a State Revenue Enhancement Committee, as recommended by an MTA Tax Force, to address the structural deficit problems faced by the state and the chronic underfunding that public higher education, in particular, has had to struggle with as a result. The committee will establish partnerships with other coalitions statewide to discuss, develop and implement revenue strategies that will serve our colleges and communities effectively. Donnie McGee has been selected to serve on this committee.
 
MCCC Legislation Internship Program:
Please encourage students and advisees to consider this opportunity. Let them know that you would be willing to sponsor them. An MCCC stipend of $500  will be awarded to selected interns (up to 8 per year) to defray travel and meal expenses. Typically, students serve in the spring and summer semesters and can earn academic credit for this experience.  Students need a GPA of at least 3.0. I have attached a related cover letter.
 
The deadline  for spring internships is January 30, 2010;  summer internships have a March 1, 2010, deadline. For the complete details and to download a student application, select  http://mccc-union.org/StudentIntern/StudentInternMaterials.pdf .
 
Thank you all for the many ways you contribute to your colleges, classrooms, students, and the MCCC. I appreciate the professional work that you perform as well as your commitment to your colleagues and this association.
 
Best wishes for a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday to all of you.
 
Sincerely,
Donnie

SAC/ORP Update Sept 23, 2009

Dear colleagues,
 
Thanks to everyone from across the state who made Monday's ORP Lobby Day  a huge success. More than 30 faculty from 11 of our community colleges  convened on Beacon Hill to jumpstart the campaign to enact SB 1173. Our colleagues from the State Colleges, UMass Amherst, and MTA joined MCCC at the Public Service Committee Hearing that morning and participated in the lobbying activities that afternoon. SB 1173 would allow faculty enrolled in the Optional Retirement Plan an opportunity to transfer to, and buyback creditable service in, the State Employees Retirement System.
 
Highlights of the Public Service Committee Hearing: 
Highlights of the Lobby Day:
The ORP Campaign: What's next?
ORP Faculty and MCCC Colleagues: Please Contact legislators ASAP.
Message to legislators:
The ORP is a retirement option that is an alternative to the state retirement system and is offered only to faculty and administrators in public higher education. Most faculty enrolled in the Optional Retirement plan have no retirement security; many will not be able to retire on ORP earnings. Many HR offices encouraged employees to select the ORP over the state retirement plan, without providing a balanced or complete comparison of the two. Some faculty were given misleading or false information about the two plans. SB 1173 remedies the injustice by allowing a one-time window for faculty in the ORP to buy-back into the state plan, at no cost to the state. 
 
A word of caution:  Some legislators are understandably concerned over the  past problems with ORP enrollment practices and want to know how to  prevent future problems. Don't get caught up in  a "pointing fingers" campaign and spend time emphasizing who  did what, when and where. If we had wanted to go down that road, we  would have gone through an oversight hearing, but that would have delayed  legislation to provide this transfer option. ORP enrollment practices are much  better at our colleges now in comparison to the first 8 years or so of ORP  faculty enrollment. If legislative offices are pursuing this line of  questioning, please try to minimize it - and let me know. Indicate that MCCC  leadership and others will be talking further with legislators and college  Presidents on how best to address any enrollment  concerns.

If you are an ORP-enrolled faculty and want this opportunity for an informed choice about retirement security, don't leave anything to chance. Contact your legislators right away and ask your friends, colleagues, and relatives to do the same. Your political actions today could make a big difference in your retirement tomorrow.
 
Please get back to me if you have questions.
 
Thank you.
Donnie