DEL BECCARO: Constitution guarantees freedom, not a cushy life - Washington Times

DEL BECCARO: Constitution guarantees freedom, not a cushy life - Washington Times

Tea Party Patriots 1st Anniversary, Sacramento, Ca.

Tea Party Patriots 1st Anniversary, Sacramento, Ca.

Obama’s ‘Race to the Top’ will Destroy California Public Education We can’t let them federalize our schools!

The federalizing of our public educational system in California will mean that we will lose local control of our schools.

Recently, I had the privilege of hearing Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN) talk about this very issue. I did some research and discovered a hornet’s nest. We are headed towards some very serious consequences if Race to the Top (RTTT) is adopted in California. RTTT consists of egregiously abusive tenets that, if implemented, would strip away parental control of children with regard to state sovereignty, parental rights, and determining a child’s mental stability. Take a look:

1. Education Reform that Requires National Standards – RTTT mandates the adoption of national standards. This will create the groundwork for the United Nations Economic Social Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to step in with their international benchmark.

The UN’s definition of human rights would take precedence over the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

2. Promoting Preschool – RTTT promotes the funding of Head Start programs for the improvement of school readiness including social, emotional (mental health), and cognitive.

3. Longitudinal Data System – Every child will be tracked from preschool to college in every aspect of programs taken. It is Big Brother oversight.

4. Cradle to College Control -This ties together all of what has been mentioned, giving the federal government total control of every aspect of a child’s life to adulthood.

Here is a brief outline of the history of how we arrived at this point.

When President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education on October 17, 1979 through Public Law 96-88, this created a “Big Brother” agency overseeing public education.

After Ronald Reagan became President, he presented a prominent 1983 report on American education from the National Commission on Excellence in Education entitled “A Nation at Risk”. (1) This redirected federal funds that once went directly to local districts to state government instead, thus creating a layer of middle management that weakened the power of local school district control. (2)

From there, the federalizing of our schools started off very innocently when President George H.W. Bush in 1990 presented the "America 2000 Excellence in Education Act." Although never passed, it influenced goals and policies of future “education reform proposals” including centralizing the control of education funding and to some degree, curriculum by means of national testing. (3)

President Bill Clinton followed that up by signing into law H.R. 1804 on July 14, 1993. (4) This bill set the precedent of reliance on federal funding to support public schools, and it also created increased federal regulation of public schools, which naturally stifled the innovation that had already been taking place. According to the Heritage Foundation: “Though Goals 2000 calls the national opportunity to learn standards ‘voluntary’, in practice the federal regulation of ‘inputs’ will be mandatory since acceptance of the rules will determine a state's eligibility for federal funding. Federal funds will be withheld from states failing to adopt the federal government's ‘voluntary’ standards. Specifically, Goals 2000 would condition $393 million in federal grants in fiscal 1994 on the development of state opportunity-to-learn standards, which the NESIC could then approve or reject.” (5)

In 1997, President Clinton put forth his “Call to Action for American Education in the 21st Century.” This was a ten-point call to action for American education enlisting parents, teachers, students, business leaders, and local and state officials. (6)

In response, Congressman Pete Hoekstra (MI) published a report called “Education at a Crossroads” through his education subcommittee that detailed the level of federal involvement in public education along with the waste, fraud, and abuse generated in federal programs. The report argued that state and local governments could use the resources more efficiently and effectively and that Washington should stop making education policy. (7)

In 2001, President George W. Bush created his own initiative, No Child Left Behind, which created additional testing beyond the state level and gave the federal government more control over public education. For example, additional days have to be used just to teach the federal curriculum to take the tests. (8)

Now to the present. President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who has never taught a day in a public school, created the gimmick of using buzz words like merit pay, more parental involvement, etc. to entice those who would normally reject any kind of government mandate. (9)

We are now living at a time in California where there is optimism that parents can have more control over where their children go to school and how the money will be used to educate their children, such as through charter schools. That may all come to a close if “Race to the Top” is successful in pushing out local control, which I believe will further damage public education.

My name is Lydia Gutierrez and I am a candidate running for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction 2010. I ask for you to read the articles listed below and start asking your school board members and legislators where do they stand on “Race to the Top.” We will be electing a new governor and it is vital that you know where this person stands on this one very important issue.

*Obama to Seek Sweeping Change in ‘No Child’ Law February 1, 2010 (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/education/01child.html)

*‘Race to the Top’ school-reform program stirs fears: Some say local control could be diminished (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/01/31/20100131racetothetop0131.html)

*Race To The Top: Federal Control of Education on Steroids by Karen R. Effrem, MD February 5, 2010 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lydia-Gutierrez-for-CA-State-Superintendent-of-Public-Instruction/226850210497?v=app_2347471856)

___________________

1. (http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/index.html)
2. (http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/finn200406090839.asp)
3. (http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/Prog95/pt3fed.html)
4. (http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/GOALS2000/TheAct/index.html)
5. (http://www.heritage.org/research/education/ib182.cfm)
6. (http://www2.ed.gov/updates/PresEDPlan/index.html)
7. (http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/publications/xroads/crreport.pdf)
8. (http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/index.html)
9. (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html)

Written by Lydia Gutierrez, M.A.

Educator and Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2010

Join Lydia’s team and together we can put CHILDREN FIRST!

http://www.Lydiaforkids2010.com/

Messages: 310-630-3736

If Abortion is Murder then why don't we act like it?

Lately, I have been perplexed with a Particular question. If abortion is murder why don't we act like it? This question is not really to people that are pro abortion, but more to people that are claiming to believe that abortion is murder.

I have met many of these good people who say they are pro life and, even say that abortion is murder and genocide and yet do nothing.

I often ask myself what would have happened had the Quakers, Fredrick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln William Wilberforce all had the same reaction to slavery. Think what would have happened had Deitrich Boenhoffer and Sophie Scholl had the same reaction during the Jewish Holocaust. What would have happened had Vernon Johns, Megar Evers, Rosa Parks and Dr Martin Luther King Jr all had the same reaction to to police brutality, white bathrooms, whites-only in the front of the bus and lynchings based on the color of somebody skin?

I would not want to know the results had they not acted! There is old quote that says "All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." Most of us love to say "rah rah" to that quote and claim that is where we stand. But our words are not backed by our actions.

So because of this, abortion has become a political election time football instead of the human rights issue that it is.

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," MLK, Jr.
Posted by Rolland Beireis from Sacramento Rock For Life Facebook Group

No to California Universal Health Care

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This is the list of Assembly members to hammer over Universal Health Care , tell them NO!!

Dawn

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBERS- DEMOCRATS- UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

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Universal Health Care JUST SAY NO!

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 ( new number )

Jared Huffman-Phone: 916-319-2006, Fax: 916-319-2106

Noreen Evans-Phone: 916-319-2007, Fax: 916-319-2107

Mariko Yamada-Phone: 916-319-2008, Fax: 916-319-2108

Dave Jones-Phone: 916-319-2009, Fax: 916-319-2109

Alyson Huber-Phone: 916-319-2010, Fax: 906-319-2110

Tom Torlakson-Phone: 916-319-2011, Fax: 916-319-2111

Fiona Ma-Phone: 916-319-2012, Fax: 916-319-2112

Tom Ammiano-Phone: 916-319-2013, Fax: 916-319-2113

Nancy Skinner-Phone: 916-319-2014, Fax: 916-319-2114

Joan Buchanan-Phone: 916-319-2015, Fax: 916-319-2115

Sandre' Swanson-Phone: 916-319-2016, Fax: 916-319-2116

Cathleen Galgiani-Phone: 916-319-2017, Fax: 916-319-2117

Mary Hayashi-Phone: 916-319-2018, Fax: 916-319-2118

Gerald Hill-Phone: 916-319-2019, Fax: 916-319-2119

Alberto Torrico-Phone: 916-319-2020, Fax: 916-319-2120

Ira Ruskin-Phone: 916-319-2021, Fax: 916-319-2121

Paul Fong-Phone: 916-319-2022, Fax: 916-319-2122

Joe Coto-Phone: 916-319-2023, Fax: 916-319-2123

James Beall Jr-Phone: 916-319-2024, Fax: 916-319-2124

Bill Monning-Phone: 916-319-2027, Fax: 916-319-2127

Anna Caballero-Phone: 916-319-2028, Fax: 916-319-2128

Juan Arambula-Phone: 916-319-2031, Fax: 916-319-2131

Felipe Fuentes-Phone: 916-319-2039, Fax: 916-319-2139

Bob Blumenfield-Phone: 916-319-2040, Fax: 916-319-2140

Julia Brownley-Phone: 916-319-2041, Fax: 916-319-2141

Mike Feuer-Phone: 916-319-2042, Fax: 916-319-2142

Paul Krekorian-Phone: 916-319-2043, Fax: 916-319-2143

Anthony Portantino, Jr.-Phone: 916-319-2044, Fax: 916-319-2144

Kevin de Leon-Phone: 916-319-2045, Fax: 916-319-2145

John Perez-Phone: 916-319-2046, Fax: 916-319-2146

Karen Bass-Phone: 916-319-2047, Fax: 916-319-2147

Mike Davis-Phone: 916-319-2048, Fax: 916-319-2148

Mike Eng-Phone: 916-319-2049, Fax: 916-319-2149

Hector de la Torre-Phone: 916-319-2050, Fax: 916-319-2150

Isadore Hall, III-Phone: 916-319-2052, Fax: 916-319-2152

Ted Lieu-Phone: 916-319-2053, Fax: 916-319-2153

Bonnie Lowenthal-Phone: 916-319-2054, Fax: 916-319-2154

Warren Furutani-Phone: 916-319-2055, Fax: 916-319-2155

Tony Mendoza-Phone: 916-319-2057, Fax: 916-319-2157

Edward Hernandez-Phone: 916-319-2057, Fax: 916-319-2157

Charles Calderon-Phone: 916-319-2058, Fax: 916-319-2158

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Norma Torres-Phone: 916-319-2061, Fax: 916-319-2161

Lori Saldana-Phone: 916-319-2076, Fax: 916-319-2176

Martin Block-Phone: 916-319-2078, Fax: 916-319-2178

Mary Salas-Phone: 916-319-2079, Fax: 916-319-2179

Manuel Perez-Phone: 916-319-2080, Fax: 916-319-2180

Wesley Chesbro- Phone: 916-319-2001, Fax: 916-319-2101

Dawn Wildman
619-606-0337
dmwlaw1@cox.net
San Diego Tea Party organizer
www.socaltaxrevoltcoalition.org

We need to call our legislators and let them know, not only how unfair this is, but unconstitutional!

Members of Congress are being urged by 22 right to work states to oppose the 40% tax on non-union health care plans that will hit everyone’s states and districts particularly hard, and is grossly unfair to non-union workers.

We need to call our legislators and let them know, not only how unfair this is, but unconstitutional! This is absolutely deplorable to American workers, 92 percent of whom do not belong to unions. In essence, non-union employers and employees will be forced to subsidize the cost of exempting union workers from the tax, which will cost families in our states and districts thousands of dollars a year in additional charges.

According to the Associated Press: "Officials say the White House and labor leaders have reached a tentative agreement on how to tax high-value health insurance plans to help pay for a revamped medical system…The proposed tax has been a major sticking point because labor leaders fear union members, with some of the more lucrative benefit plans, would be hurt. President Barack Obama supports it as a way to hold down costs by nudging workers into less pricey coverage." Now we're supposed to believe that this special agreement will only last for eight years. All this means is that they have eight years to renegotiate the deal and get it again.

The tax, as passed in the Senate bill, would charge insurance companies a 40 percent excise tax on coverage above $8,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a family. Within three years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the tax would apply to nearly 20 percent of all workers. Within six years, it would reach a fifth of all households earning as little as $50,000 annually.

Immediately, the tax will have three impacts:

1. Health benefits will be cut as many insurers and employers stop providing such plans that were once affordable.

2. Of those plans not cancelled, the costs will be passed on to the insured, raising premiums.

3. This new Health Care Penalty Tax will be used in Right-to-Work states as a backdoor method to force workers join unions, since union dues would be less than the tax.

This is a tax aimed at non-union workers and non-unionized businesses, in particular, small businesses that provide good health coverage to their employees. Meanwhile, union bosses of the AFL-CIO and the SEIU have been well-represented, as is indicated by this contemptible union exemption from the 40 percent excise tax.

You know what to do. Call your Senators and Representatives and keep fighting! We will never give up - NEVER.

Ginny Rapini

norcalteaparty1@aol.com

CTA uses Funds without CTA Representatives Vote by Lydia Gutierrez for State Superintendent of Schools

CTA uses Funds without CTA Representatives Vote

In the 2008 election cycle, California Teachers Association (CTA) made an executive decision to use teacher union dues to support an initiative without a vote from CTA Representatives.

I am a public school teacher and an union representative for my school. I believe in collaborative bargaining at the local level and have supported the efforts my union has made for my profession.

But I do question CTA's motives when they have made decisions that go outside that boundary. Do read the below letter that speaks to this issue.

It is important to stay active and be involved,

Lydia Gutierrez Candidate for State Superintendent, 2010



California Teachers Association
P.O. Box 921
1705 Murchison Drive
Burlingame, CA 94011-0921

April 28, 2009 (OPEN LETTER)


Dear David Sanchez, President


I am a CTA member in good standing. I am becoming alarmed that my dues are not being used in the most beneficial way in supporting my profession but are being used to undermine my ethics, and those of my classroom children's parents.


Throughout the State, many businesses are closing down; companies are down sizing, leaving many of my parents without the ability to pay for their own basic needs. During this time, many of our colleagues throughout this State are facing the same situation.


I am offended that CTA, our organization, has not taken any steps of down sizing, and lessening the financial burden of our dues but in fact increasing it by $22. Yet, even our own union, TALB, has been fiscally responsible in the process of paying off our debt while not increasing our dues.


I am also outraged to learn that much of our political action dues are being used to undermine the civil rights of parents by endorsing propositions that may oppose their family values.


* CTA endorsed “No” Proposition 8 - $1.3 million dollars

* CTA endorsed “No” Proposition 4 (Parental Notification) – $615, 000

* CTA has endorsed SB 572 Harvey Milk Day Holiday(Caesar Chavez has done more for the working class of this State and Country then the one named above, this is offensive to the families of my students.)


It is known that many letters were written by CTA Teachers for the outrage in knowing their dues were being used for Propositions 8 and 4 that had nothing to do with the teaching profession. By CTA’s endorsement of SB 572, you have completely ignored again the voice of the teachers you claim to represent.


I found it deceptive that in September 2008, you came up with a suggestion of how we could be supportive of education by donating $20 to the CTA Foundation for Teaching and Learning or to CTA Advocacy Efforts. You made the requirement that to not support the idea we had to respond by a signed document with our code number or it would automatically be taken out by a certain date. You then spent money to mail back the $20 to all the people who signed no because you had already taken it out.


This kind of method is used because there will always be a percentage that will forget to do it or didn’t get the information. It was also found out that anyone who did sign up, thinking it was a one time deal, continues to pay until they themselves say stop.

You are being paid to look out for the welfare of our profession, not your own particular special interest, which I believe those listed above do.


I believe you can get rid of Human Rights Community Outreach at $15.64 because we are, as teachers, the best advocates for human rights. Before you asked for this extra $20, you had already many of the advocacies, foundations, and scholarship and grant programs in place. This is called double dipping. For example, the Human Rights Community Outreach is stated again in the GLBT to promote human and civil rights.


Three times you have used the word “Governance” in describing why you need so much money to do your job.


*Governance $26.64 - 4.3%

*Governance Relations $21.75 – 3.5%

*Service Departments $87.05 – 14.0% (a percentage of it is for Governance Support- it is not stated how much)

One of the major reasons monies do not get into the classroom is because of bureaucracies being so large and often over paid that the kids and teachers lose out. This looks like the making of a big government, instead of an organization that has our interest at heart.


You have given no substantial reasons for your increase of dues, especially with the economic down turn our State is experiencing, but the underlying tone of your own self interest.


As a paying member of CTA, I demand to know immediately what bills, initiatives, measures or propositions you are considering to endorse before endorsement. I would like our CTA Representatives to come back and inform us so that we can give input from the teachers who give you a pay check.



Sincerely,


Lydia Gutierrez

CTA Member