CCEA and the 2010 Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Governor Jim Gibbons has called for a Special Session of the Nevada Legislature to convene starting February 23, 2010 to address the $800+ million shortfall in the state’s budget for the current biennium.
It is anticipated that the agenda, which is set by the Governor, will include drastic cuts to education funding, as well as the Governor’s proposed 8-Point Education Reform Plan.
It is imperative CCEA members, as well as the community at large, become actively involved and contact their legislative representatives to tell their story. Teachers, parents and students – tell them how these cuts will affect students and teachers; tell them of the far-reaching consequences further cuts will have in education.
Below are links to assist you in the process.
Online Petition
Contact Your Legislator
Video Messages to Governor Gibbons and Nevada Legislators
School Action Plan
Schedule of Events
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March 1, 2010 – Seventh Day of the 26 th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Legislative session adjourns sine die at 2:16 a.m.
It is expected that the governor will sign the budget bill.
February 28, 2010 – Sixth Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Update (6:38 a.m.)
Legislative session expected to “sine die” today.
Update (9:07 a.m.)
Legislators are trying to sell the 6.9% because it’s not 7%. Students lose again!
Legislators will reconvene at around 11:00 a.m.
Update (3:09 p.m.)
Assembly is in recess until 4:00 p.m.
Update (5:10 p.m.)
Session is not over. A proclamation extension is expected. Ending time for the special session will be 5:00 p.m., Monday, 3/1
Update (6:27 p.m.)
Final deal: 6.9% cut to education. Legislators played Let’s Make a Deal and Nevada’s kids lost. They protected mega corporations and other large industries and will make the kids pay. The process is broken. The voters will fix what the legislators can’t and won’t.
We expect that NRS 288 will be the main target in the next session (2011) and it will be a difficult one, especially if revenues are not increased.
February 27, 2010 – Fifth Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Update (12:36 p.m.)
AB 4 addresses Class Size Reduction. It provides flexibility to increase class size by 2 students for 1 year. This will save $30 million in Clark County. It passed in the Assembly and Senate.
AB 5 is the bill that will remove the fence around textbooks. It passed.
There is a resolution coming from the Senate that basically states local governments and employee groups should come together in these dire times to help relieve pressure on the budget. It is presented as a resolution only.
Update (5:21 p.m.)
Governor is behind doors. Hopefully working on the final deal.
Update (7:29 p.m.)
Governor Gibbons and legislators have been meeting for more than 3 hours.
Update (8:22 p.m.)
Lawmakers headed into their respective caucuses to discuss the 4-hour meeting. Rumors of a deal – we have been hearing this for a couple of days.
Ralston says deal “close.” Republicans caucus may take a minute.
Update (10:05 p.m.)
The deal: Cuts to education will be 6.9% -- split the difference from the Democrats’ 5% and the Republicans’ 7.5%
Update (10:26 p.m.)
Speaker Buckley said that there is something in the deal everyone will dislike.
Most Recent News...
- Gaming and Chambers of Commerce are on the hot seat in the Senate. Kudos to Townsend (R) for taking on the Chambers.
- Brothel industry has come to the table saying they can bring in at least a BILLION dollars to the state.
- It is speculated that the “Board of Examiners” may be composed by the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State – and they would have final say on whether to approve the contract(s) or not.
Gov. Jim Gibbons had a meeting with legislative leaders earlier today, and will meet again at 3:00 p.m., to try to resolve final differences and get a deal. It appears Gov. Gibbons seems motivated to reach an agreement and end the special session.
Gibbons told the media that "We are very close on how we are going to find the revenue." He said they must cut through the filters and get to just how to raise the money. He also said he and Speaker Buckley--the meeting started over Race to the Top--talked about the federal funding and she made her case that the bill is fine in its current form and that supes say it would make the state more competitive, not less for the grant. But she has yet to transmit the bill to Gibbons, in case he still wants to veto it.
February 26, 2010 - Fourth Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
The Latest News...
If no deal is reached at the 3:00 p.m. meeting, the Assembly plans to convene and introduce a plan with the 5 percent education cuts and pass it.
On a separate note, it looks like Horsford is still planning on his "come to the table and we'll take your money" hearing with corporate Nevada.
February 26, 2010 - Fourth Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Today there will be a hearing on “allowing school districts flexibility in class size reduction.” Why, we are not sure because Clark and Washoe already have flexibility. Is this a money saver or will it cause teachers to potentially lose jobs?
February 25, 2010 - Third Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
We thanked the legislators for the unwavering support with our language on the Race to The Top (RTTT). There were many legislators on both houses concerned that the Governor will veto the bill -- no word yet, as it may not have been sent to him.
The Assembly polled its members to see if they wanted to reduce the Governor’s recommendation from 10% to 5% - everyone wanted to go against the Governor’s recommendation except for the Republicans. None of this is binding but it was a sentimental/symbolic gesture that cuts to education should not be 10%.
The Assembly did pass a bill, AB 3, which would move money from different line items commonly referred to as "Sweeps"- and the vote was 41-1. The only person voting against it was Goedhart. It totaled about $100 million, so only $788 million to go.
We are still waiting for more bills regarding the budget to hit the Senate and Assembly.
The Assembly Republican caucus came up with a plan to solve the budget crisis and their proposal was to reduce the education budget to 7.5%. In addition, they want negotiations to fall under the Open Meeting Law since public dollars are used.
February 24, 2010 - Second Day of the 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature
Nevada Assembly holds meeting during Special Session.
CCEA President Ruben Murillo attends Assembly hearings.
CCEA Deputy Executive Director Dane Watson sits in the Nevada Assembly gallery.
