Internet Service Upgrade Coming to Poor and Rural Schools
By EDWARD WYATT
Published: September 20, 2010
New York Times
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission is expected on Thursday to approve an overhaul of the $2.25 billion E-Rate program, which subsidizes Internet service for schools and public libraries, to give schools more options for faster Internet service, allow for community Internet service and to begin pilot programs for digital textbooks.
The proposed E-Rate order would allow schools and libraries to use federal funds to lease unused local communication lines — known as dark fiber — to connect to the Internet, a potentially faster and lower-cost connection than currently offered through many local telecommunications companies.
Some schools still do not have broadband connections, the F.C.C. noted in its National Broadband Plan, released this year. The company that administers E-Rate received at least 200 requests in the 2009 fiscal year for money to pay for dial-up Internet connections. The program mostly serves schools in poor and rural communities. At its monthly meeting on Thursday, the F.C.C. also will consider allowing schools to open the use of Internet resources paid for with E-Rate funds to the local community after school hours and when school is not in session, which is currently not allowed under E-Rate regulations.
“For the good of our economy, we need all of our kids to be digitally literate,” Julius Genachowski, the F.C.C. chairman, said in an interview. Job postings are increasingly available online only, he said, while a growing percentage of jobs require basic digital skills as a prerequisite.
The commission also is expected to approve a pilot program that supports off-campus wireless Internet connections for use with mobile learning devices, like digital textbooks. That would allow schools to update their textbooks more frequently and save students from having to carry back-breaking loads of textbooks home each night.
The E-Rate program, which is financed by a fee collected from all telephone users, came under fire from Congress in 2004 for wasteful spending. Changes in accounting regulations and program rules led to a temporary suspension of new grants that year.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Other States Join Michigan in Fiscal Woes
Budget-balancing axes being sharpened
9,800 people could be laid off as agencies seek ways to trim billions
By KATE ALEXANDER
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Sept. 19, 2010, 9:51PM
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PROPOSED CUTS
• Department of Criminal Justice: 7,353
• Youth Commission: 460
• Comptroller of Public Accounts: 315
• Department of Insurance: 186
• Department of Public Safety: 120
Note: Includes both layoffs and the elimination of vacant positions.
Source: 2012-13 Legislative Appropriations Requests submitted to the Legislative Budget Board
To the children at the Texas School for the Deaf, Mary Monckton is a sunny and engaging speech pathologist determined to help them learn to communicate.
But to legislators, Monckton is an expense that Texas might not be able to afford.
Hers is one of 9,800 jobs that state agencies have offered up for elimination as legislators prepare to trim billions of dollars from the 2012-13 state budget, according to an American-Statesman analysis of agency budget requests.
$21 billion in red ink
While some positions might be preserved or are already vacant, thousands of workers could likely be laid off as the state grapples with a projected two-year budget shortfall approaching $21 billion.
Mike Gross, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union, said he expects there will be much more pressure to lay off employees next year than in 2003, the last time Texas faced a similar budget crunch. State leaders have again vowed to close the gap without raising taxes, but the magnitude of the budget problem is greater this time, in part because of the ongoing recession.
"Texas is not a poor state," Gross said. "We can afford to do better by our people."
Worst-case scenario
While agencies tend to offer worst-case scenarios to open the budget negotiations, there is some truth to the grim projections, said Talmadge Heflin, director of the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a think tank that promotes limited government.
"If they show the legislators all these bad things will happen, maybe it will soften their hearts a little bit or loosen their pocketbooks," said Heflin, a former legislator.
For Claire Bugen, superintendent of the School for the Deaf, losing employees is agonizing.
Bugen, as with other state agency leaders, was required to propose cuts totaling 10 percent of the school's general revenue budget, which came to $3.6 million.
She nixed a summer school program, as well as building repair, some laundry services, computers, furniture and more. Still $1.2 million short of the reduction target, the only thing left to cut was people.
"Every little position you lose in a school like ours has an impact," said Bugen, who says the School for the Deaf should be exempt from the cuts, as are traditional school districts. "We're so small. How is our $3,637,402 going to help? It's not going to help the state of Texas balance its budget, but it would do so much for us."
Schools not in the clear
Therein lies the problem for Texas legislators.
What's really on the table?
The state's $87 billion general revenue fund pays for a handful of behemoths — public education, health and human services, criminal justice - and a bunch of relatively small agencies.
For now, state leaders have protected public school aid from the cuts, though people from across the political spectrum say it is unlikely that schools will be left untouched.
"If the Legislature is going to balance this budget primarily through budget cuts, nothing can be off the table," said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.
All told, the 10 percent cuts could reduce state spending by $3 billion if fully implemented, according to the Legislative Budget Board.
Another $1.2 billion could be saved if the 5 percent cuts enacted in the current budget are continued.
That leaves a long way to go to close a $21 billion gap, even with an $8 billion rainy day fund.
Higher education hit
Key legislators are already pushing to exempt from layoffs 7,300 prison guards, parole officers and other corrections workers at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On the flip side, colleges and universities are expected to add to the final job loss tally when the budget is completed next year. The schools were not included in the American-Statesman analysis because they were not required to report the full impact of the potential cuts in their budget proposals.
But higher education shouldered a disproportionately large amount of the $1.2 billion trim from the current budget, and that is not expected to change next year.
The University of Texas, for instance, has said 600 jobs could be eliminated if a full 10 percent cut is required. At Texas A&M University, the number of affected jobs would be 400.
In 2003, most of the 10,000 eliminated jobs were cleared through attrition and a retirement incentive. About 1,400 workers were laid off at the Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Education Agency.
But 2011 might necessitate more actual layoffs because the budget situation is worse, and the state has fewer budget-cutting options than in 2003, Craymer said.
Because of the recession, there are also fewer vacant positions to scuttle without affecting a person, said Andy Homer, government relations director for the Texas Public Employees Association.
"The turnover numbers have just gone down," Homer said. "People who have a job are sticking with it."
9,800 people could be laid off as agencies seek ways to trim billions
By KATE ALEXANDER
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Sept. 19, 2010, 9:51PM
Share
Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! Buzz FacebookStumbleUponEmail
Resources
PROPOSED CUTS
• Department of Criminal Justice: 7,353
• Youth Commission: 460
• Comptroller of Public Accounts: 315
• Department of Insurance: 186
• Department of Public Safety: 120
Note: Includes both layoffs and the elimination of vacant positions.
Source: 2012-13 Legislative Appropriations Requests submitted to the Legislative Budget Board
To the children at the Texas School for the Deaf, Mary Monckton is a sunny and engaging speech pathologist determined to help them learn to communicate.
But to legislators, Monckton is an expense that Texas might not be able to afford.
Hers is one of 9,800 jobs that state agencies have offered up for elimination as legislators prepare to trim billions of dollars from the 2012-13 state budget, according to an American-Statesman analysis of agency budget requests.
$21 billion in red ink
While some positions might be preserved or are already vacant, thousands of workers could likely be laid off as the state grapples with a projected two-year budget shortfall approaching $21 billion.
Mike Gross, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union, said he expects there will be much more pressure to lay off employees next year than in 2003, the last time Texas faced a similar budget crunch. State leaders have again vowed to close the gap without raising taxes, but the magnitude of the budget problem is greater this time, in part because of the ongoing recession.
"Texas is not a poor state," Gross said. "We can afford to do better by our people."
Worst-case scenario
While agencies tend to offer worst-case scenarios to open the budget negotiations, there is some truth to the grim projections, said Talmadge Heflin, director of the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a think tank that promotes limited government.
"If they show the legislators all these bad things will happen, maybe it will soften their hearts a little bit or loosen their pocketbooks," said Heflin, a former legislator.
For Claire Bugen, superintendent of the School for the Deaf, losing employees is agonizing.
Bugen, as with other state agency leaders, was required to propose cuts totaling 10 percent of the school's general revenue budget, which came to $3.6 million.
She nixed a summer school program, as well as building repair, some laundry services, computers, furniture and more. Still $1.2 million short of the reduction target, the only thing left to cut was people.
"Every little position you lose in a school like ours has an impact," said Bugen, who says the School for the Deaf should be exempt from the cuts, as are traditional school districts. "We're so small. How is our $3,637,402 going to help? It's not going to help the state of Texas balance its budget, but it would do so much for us."
Schools not in the clear
Therein lies the problem for Texas legislators.
What's really on the table?
The state's $87 billion general revenue fund pays for a handful of behemoths — public education, health and human services, criminal justice - and a bunch of relatively small agencies.
For now, state leaders have protected public school aid from the cuts, though people from across the political spectrum say it is unlikely that schools will be left untouched.
"If the Legislature is going to balance this budget primarily through budget cuts, nothing can be off the table," said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.
All told, the 10 percent cuts could reduce state spending by $3 billion if fully implemented, according to the Legislative Budget Board.
Another $1.2 billion could be saved if the 5 percent cuts enacted in the current budget are continued.
That leaves a long way to go to close a $21 billion gap, even with an $8 billion rainy day fund.
Higher education hit
Key legislators are already pushing to exempt from layoffs 7,300 prison guards, parole officers and other corrections workers at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
On the flip side, colleges and universities are expected to add to the final job loss tally when the budget is completed next year. The schools were not included in the American-Statesman analysis because they were not required to report the full impact of the potential cuts in their budget proposals.
But higher education shouldered a disproportionately large amount of the $1.2 billion trim from the current budget, and that is not expected to change next year.
The University of Texas, for instance, has said 600 jobs could be eliminated if a full 10 percent cut is required. At Texas A&M University, the number of affected jobs would be 400.
In 2003, most of the 10,000 eliminated jobs were cleared through attrition and a retirement incentive. About 1,400 workers were laid off at the Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Education Agency.
But 2011 might necessitate more actual layoffs because the budget situation is worse, and the state has fewer budget-cutting options than in 2003, Craymer said.
Because of the recession, there are also fewer vacant positions to scuttle without affecting a person, said Andy Homer, government relations director for the Texas Public Employees Association.
"The turnover numbers have just gone down," Homer said. "People who have a job are sticking with it."
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Proposal 10-1 Con Con
Voters will vote in November on whether to have a constitutional convention in2011.
Cost of the convention will be approx $28 million.
Citizens will run for delegate slots and if elected will have the right to amend or totally redo our state constitution.
Last time we did this was 1962.
Should we pass this proposal? Why?
What are the major issues the delegates should address if we pass 10-1?
Cost of the convention will be approx $28 million.
Citizens will run for delegate slots and if elected will have the right to amend or totally redo our state constitution.
Last time we did this was 1962.
Should we pass this proposal? Why?
What are the major issues the delegates should address if we pass 10-1?
Proposal 10-2
Michigan will Have 2 ballot proposals : 10-2 will ask voters to consider amending the state constitution to prohibit certain felons from holding elective office and specified typesnpublic positions.
God idea? Why? If you "serve your time" why should your right tomoffice be limited or a right to a public job? Should you have the right to vote? Should all of these prohibitions be a lifetime ban?
God idea? Why? If you "serve your time" why should your right tomoffice be limited or a right to a public job? Should you have the right to vote? Should all of these prohibitions be a lifetime ban?
Friday, September 3, 2010
State parties look past Republican National Committee for cash - Jeanne Cummings - POLITICO.com
ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND RAISING CAMPAIGN MONEY.
State parties look past Republican National Committee for cash - Jeanne Cummings - POLITICO.com
State parties look past Republican National Committee for cash - Jeanne Cummings - POLITICO.com
Finance reports show Rick Snyder loaned gubernatorial campaign most of its funds | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Finance reports show Rick Snyder loaned gubernatorial campaign most of its funds | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
MONEY AND POLITICS. WHICH DRIVES WHICH? PERSONAL MONEY VERSUS DONOR MONEY? ANY DIFFERENCE? WHY? HOW AND WHAT?
MONEY AND POLITICS. WHICH DRIVES WHICH? PERSONAL MONEY VERSUS DONOR MONEY? ANY DIFFERENCE? WHY? HOW AND WHAT?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Mosque violence in N.Y. State - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com
Mosque violence in N.Y. State - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com
Should the federal government intervene here or is this a pure 10th Amendment issue--let the locals handle location of mosque's and handle prosecution of violence in their communities? Is this a federal civil rights issue or just plain and simple local prosecution issue? What would the implications of the 10th Amendment be?
Should the federal government intervene here or is this a pure 10th Amendment issue--let the locals handle location of mosque's and handle prosecution of violence in their communities? Is this a federal civil rights issue or just plain and simple local prosecution issue? What would the implications of the 10th Amendment be?
Worthy: 4 defrauded Detroit schools of $150K | detnews.com | The Detroit News
Worthy: 4 defrauded Detroit schools of $150K | detnews.com | The Detroit News
How do we get at reform of K-12 education? Should it stay local, local control, or should we have more state level involvement? More state regulation, testing and monitoring of ALL schools? Should the feds have less involvement and return more to state and local? What reforms would work?
How do we get at reform of K-12 education? Should it stay local, local control, or should we have more state level involvement? More state regulation, testing and monitoring of ALL schools? Should the feds have less involvement and return more to state and local? What reforms would work?
Candidates nominated at state conventions | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Candidates nominated at state conventions | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
good candidate listing. any thing strike you as you look at this list? how could it be a better list? more diversity? more what? less what? comments on list in general?
good candidate listing. any thing strike you as you look at this list? how could it be a better list? more diversity? more what? less what? comments on list in general?
Tom Walsh: Michigan leads U.S. in new jobs with 27,800 | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Tom Walsh: Michigan leads U.S. in new jobs with 27,800 | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
Good news or just a blip in the real economic problems facing our state? Maybe we just take good news as it comes and go as they say "one day at a time."
Good news or just a blip in the real economic problems facing our state? Maybe we just take good news as it comes and go as they say "one day at a time."
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