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House action keeps Wisconsin on the road to economic recovery
Posted: 8/10/2010 5:20:13 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2010
Contact: Christina Brey, 608.213.3497
Legislation may save as many as 3,000 education jobs in Wisconsin as students return to classrooms
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved emergency funding to help states cope with the Great Recession and stave off massive layoffs of educators. The House followed the Senate in adopting a provision to keep educators working and help states with Medicaid funding. It provides $10 billion for educators’ jobs and $16 billion for a Medicaid funding assistance program.
The legislation would provide approximately $180 million in federal funding for Wisconsin and help save as many as 3,000 jobs.
A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that the legislation, which is fully paid for, will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years. The bill, which the Department of Education estimates will save some 161,000 educators’ jobs, now goes to President Obama for his signature.
The following can be attributed to Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council:
“Today’s vote is a victory for Wisconsin’s students and communities. We urge President Obama to sign this legislation, in order to ensure that teachers and support staff will be in place as the new school year begins. While our nation works to turn around our ailing economy, we cannot turn our backs on today’s students. They only get one shot at an education. This will help keep class sizes small and allow local schools to continue offering the programs Wisconsin students need to succeed.”
For resources and information on Wisconsin education, visit www.weac.org
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The Wisconsin Education Association Council is a union of 98,000 educators dedicated to Wisconsin’s public schools.
