In an email from a college instructor here in Tx..
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sean Michael Byrne
(512) 478-9800
April 14, 2003
REPUBLICANS TO LEVY A "TEACHER TAX"
AUSTIN -Texas public school teachers are poised to join children, pregnant women, and senior citizens on the list of Texans on whose backs Republicans intend to balance the state budget.
Texas Democratic Party Chairwoman Molly Beth Malcolm called the Republican plan to reduce health insurance benefits for public school employees a "teacher tax."
"The Republicans are prepared to balance the state budget on the backs of our public school teachers who are underpaid as it is. The Republican plan to further increase out of pocket costs for teachers is nothing more than a cleverly disguised 'teacher tax'," said Chairwoman Malcolm.
The House of Representatives this week is debating the Republican budget proposal, House Bill 1, which slashes the health insurance program instituted under Democratic House Speaker Pete Laney that benefits 600,000 public school employees in Texas. The benefits for teachers would be cut in half and benefits for other public school employees, such as janitors and bus drivers, will be cut by more than two-thirds. Furthermore, active teachers will have to pay more for their pension program and retired teachers will see their premiums increase by 33 percent.
Texas is currently dealing with a teacher shortage. Chairwoman Malcolm said the 'teacher tax' will further exacerbate the current teacher shortage in Texas.
"We should be working to attract and retain Texas teachers to reduce the teacher shortage, improve our schools and keep class sizes down. The Republican 'teacher tax' will do nothing but drive more teachers out of the profession and undermine the quality of our public schools," said Malcolm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sean Michael Byrne
(512) 478-9800
April 14, 2003
REPUBLICANS TO LEVY A "TEACHER TAX"
AUSTIN -Texas public school teachers are poised to join children, pregnant women, and senior citizens on the list of Texans on whose backs Republicans intend to balance the state budget.
Texas Democratic Party Chairwoman Molly Beth Malcolm called the Republican plan to reduce health insurance benefits for public school employees a "teacher tax."
"The Republicans are prepared to balance the state budget on the backs of our public school teachers who are underpaid as it is. The Republican plan to further increase out of pocket costs for teachers is nothing more than a cleverly disguised 'teacher tax'," said Chairwoman Malcolm.
The House of Representatives this week is debating the Republican budget proposal, House Bill 1, which slashes the health insurance program instituted under Democratic House Speaker Pete Laney that benefits 600,000 public school employees in Texas. The benefits for teachers would be cut in half and benefits for other public school employees, such as janitors and bus drivers, will be cut by more than two-thirds. Furthermore, active teachers will have to pay more for their pension program and retired teachers will see their premiums increase by 33 percent.
Texas is currently dealing with a teacher shortage. Chairwoman Malcolm said the 'teacher tax' will further exacerbate the current teacher shortage in Texas.
"We should be working to attract and retain Texas teachers to reduce the teacher shortage, improve our schools and keep class sizes down. The Republican 'teacher tax' will do nothing but drive more teachers out of the profession and undermine the quality of our public schools," said Malcolm.
