[NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346

[Lisa]

Please remove my email address from the NENA email membership list.  I  
did not sign up to have my email mailbox filled with email debates  
like this.

I signed up for notices and pertinent about our neighborhood - NOT  
political debates.

So if there is no other way to stop this type of debate from clogging  
my mailbox, just remove my email address.  It's too much.

If, however, it is possible to put a freeze on mailing privileges of  
those who disregard the parameters of what this email list is supposed  
to be used for, then I will be happy to remain.

Lisa Abeyta

On Mar 8, 2009, at 9:34 PM, John Ingram wrote:

> Paul,
>
> Somehow I knew you would be the one to dig deeper into this issue.  
> Nice job. Thanks for doing the hard work to find the commission's  
> report. I hope everyone on this email list will read it, especially  
> Don Silva, Jeffery Beth and Lisa Abeyta.
>
> Your premise that public education is broken and therefore not  
> worthy of our tax dollars is way out of left field. Sorry, pal.  
> You're wrong. Public education is the cornerstone of our democracy,  
> and it's doing a pretty damn good job considering the circumstances  
> -- i.e. the State Legislature is responsible for funding.
>
> Just curious, what kind of business do you wish you could run in the  
> same way education does?
>
> Of course, you can always say you don't agree with, or believe in a  
> certain study's methodology, but that's a cop-out. You play the  
> cards you are dealt.
>
> Facts are, there's the commission, the commission decided to use a  
> certain proven method to study an issue, input was solicited and  
> received, said input was analyzed, and conclusions were drawn.
>
> Focus on the conclusions and outcomes, and not pick apart the process.
>
> Fact is, the commission reported our elected state reps and senators  
> have not been funding our public schools. Literally everyone I know  
> in Santa Fe knows this to be true. It's been happening since 1982.
>
> Fact is, the NM State Constitution (I'm surprised you didn't go look  
> at this, and quote it in your email) says our legislators must  
> "sufficiently" (don't you just love that weasel word?) fund our  
> public schools.
>
> And you know what? The NM State Constitution (Article 12, Section  
> 12) directs the legislature to use the "Permanent School Fund" to do  
> fund our schools. They don't do that either.
>
> Paul, you might appreciate another little known fact --- Rep.  
> Luciano "Lucky" Varela, retired state employee, 30+ years as  
> Democratic representative from Santa Fe, passed a bill in the House  
> last week which, if the Senate and Governor agree, will take $54-56  
> million of our tax dollars and give it to Highlands University, and  
> Highlands will use the money to buy a failed private college, the  
> College of Santa Fe.
>
> How's that for bailing-out a private school with our public dollars?
>
> And, since there's no money -- as both conservative Demos and Repubs  
> say --- "Lucky" finds $54-$56 million. Guess he won it at the  
> tables, huh?
>
> John Adams Ingram
>
> --- On Sun, 3/8/09, Paul Grunwald <pgrunwald at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> From: Paul Grunwald <pgrunwald at comcast.net>
> Subject: RE: [NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346
> To: "'John Ingram'" <ingram1ja at yahoo.com>, members at noreste.org,  
> "'JEFFREY BETH PETERSON'" <ainsleyann at msn.com>
> Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 11:42 AM
>
> John,
>
>
> Since this study is touted as a FACT and  the definitive reason to  
> raise my taxes again,  I thought I would look it up,  it can be  
> found here:http://www.air.org/news/documents/new.mexico.volume1.pdf.
>
>
> In general,  I found the methodology of the study to not be  
> scientifically rigorous.   It is base on opinions gathered from  
> questionnaires and town hall meeting with basically a self selecting  
> group of people with a vested interest in gaining more funding.    
> People can read the study and judge for themselves the validity  
> however.   This study is basically an opinion,  not a FACT.
>
>
> I would like to quote a few items from the Executive Summary of the  
> study:
>
>
> “Both the cost analyses derived from the PJPs and the PAP  
> specifications reveal similar patterns of variation in the cost of  
> sufficiency associated with student poverty, English learner status,  
> student disability, student mobility, and the scale of school and  
> district operations. It is important to note that there were some  
> differences among the panels in the program designs and resource  
> specifications they felt were necessary for achieving sufficiency.  
> To some degree, these differences resulted from a lack of universal  
> agreement in the professional literature in education as to “what  
> works.” This suggests that there is no uniform model of services  
> from which an unambiguous, single estimate of the cost of achieving  
> sufficiency can be derived.”  Pg v
>
>
> “In doing so, the panels were explicitly told to focus primarily on  
> the comprehensive set of resources and services necessary to achieve  
> the desired goals. They were told further not to think explicitly  
> about specific revenue sources (e.g., Title I, IDEA, or other  
> categorical funding programs) that might be used to support specific  
> categories of classroom teachers, resource teachers, specialists,  
> etc., necessary to implement their program designs.  Asking the  
> panels to ignore specific revenue streams in this fashion was done  
> for two reasons. First, it is undesirable to constrain the use of  
> specific resources, as is regularly done with those supported by  
> categorical funding streams. And second, doing so would inherently  
> impose a budget constraint that undermines the primary intention of  
> the process: that is, to identify how much funding is necessary to  
> provide a sufficient education comprehensive enough to meet the  
> needs of all students.”    Pg vi
>
>
> Too bad I can’t run my business that way!!!
>
>
> “A Cautionary Note
>
> Although the PJPs and PAP developed instructional designs with which  
> schools could construct a sufficient opportunity to meet the goals  
> set forth by the state, AIR does not recommend that the theoretical  
> designs become mandates for local practice. However insightful the  
> instructional designs created by these panels or persuasive the case  
> for their effectiveness, the intention of this exercise was not to  
> create a “one size fits all” prescription for best educational  
> practices. Rather, the model provides a systematic process with  
> which to determine the level of expenditures needed to provide a  
> sufficient education across a wide range of circumstances (i.e.,  
> needs and scale of operations). To take full advantage of the  
> creativity, commitment, and experience of local educators, we  
> recommend allowing them discretion to determine exactly how funds  
> should be used. Of course, that discretion should be necessarily  
> coupled with an effective accountability system and governance  
> structure to ensure that districts are accountable to the  
> Legislature and the taxpayers in their provision of a sufficient  
> education.”  Pg xiv
>
>
> At the conclusion of the study:  “Finally, it is important to  
> recognize that investment in education by itself will not guarantee  
> the desired outcomes. The success of our children depends on a  
> multitude of factors that affect their ability to learn and thrive  
> in the complex world in which we live.”
>
>
> Like stated above,  this study is not rigorous and should not be  
> used as a basic to extract more taxpayer dollars to support a broken  
> system.
>
>
>
> From: members-bounces at noreste.org [mailto:members- 
> bounces at noreste.org] On Behalf Of John Ingram
> Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 9:41 AM
> To: members at noreste.org; JEFFREY BETH PETERSON
> Cc: ingram1ja at yahoo.com
> Subject: Re: [NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346
>
>
> NENA President Jeffrey Beth:
>
>
>
> Thanks for your reply and opinion about my legislative email alert.
>
>
>
> However, I respectfully disagree with you and former state rep. Don  
> Silva.
>
>
>
> I painstakenly reviewed my alert to learn what you and Don are  
> complaining about.
>
>
>
> Clearly, I DID NOT distribute POLITICAL OPINION.
>
>
>
> I did distribute a number of FACTS, which are highlighted below.
>
>
>
> However, I'm disappointed and confused by your email. Here's why:  
> whenever a bill, issue or concern comes before City Council or  
> Planning Commission which impacts NENA, our neighbors, or our  
> schools, we use the website and email list to alert everyone with  
> factual information so they can express their concerns, or choose to  
> do nothing.
>
>
>
> The main point is to make information available so everyone in NENA,  
> who chooses to get involved or not, can make an informed decision.
>
>
>
> My email legislative alert was distributed to NENA in that spirit.
>
>
>
> Please explain why you think it's OKAY to distribute information and  
> FACTS about city council proposals, but it's not OKAY to distribute  
> information about state legislative bills that impact La Cueva HS,  
> Desert Ridge MS, Dennis Chavez ES, North Star ES, etc.?
>
>
>
> Finally, I would like to know which of the following, in your mind,  
> are opinions and should not be shared with NENA members? Please  
> respond.
>
>
>
> #1: A professional study group was commissioned to determine why too  
> many of our schools and students are performing so poorly. The  
> commission issued a report several months ago with the finding that  
> the State Legislature, which controls education funding, has  
> consistently underfunded our schools by about 15% a year, or $350  
> million annually.
>
>
>
> #2: In 1981, the State Legislature voted to remove property taxes as  
> the sole source of school funding. Instead, the majority of  
> legislators voted to be accountable and responsible for funding our  
> schools with state income taxes, gross receipts/sales taxes, and a  
> small percentage of the interest generated by investing the $7.9  
> billion Permanent School Fund in Wall Street.
>
>
>
> #3: Since 1982, K-12 and (now) pre-K public school funding has  
> steadily declined from more than 50% of the overall NM state budget  
> to 43% today.
>
>
>
> #4: The NM State Constitution legally requires the Legislature to  
> "sufficiently" fund our schools.
>
>
>
> #5:  The study commission reported that the State Legislature is not  
> meeting its constitutional mandate.
>
>
>
> #6: School districts are threatening to sue the Legislature in  
> district court regarding this issue unless they pass HB 331/346.
>
>
>
> #7: HB 331/346 will increase gross receipts/sales taxes by three- 
> quarters of one percent and produces about $350 million annually to  
> fund our public schools.
>
>
>
> #8: Rep. Stewart, sponsor of HB 331/346, amended the bills, so HB  
> 33/346 no longer requires an increase in state income taxes for top  
> earners who are paying 4.9 percent rate in the spirit of compromise  
> with the ABQ Chamber of Commerce.
>
>
>
> #9: The House Appropriations & Finance Committee is scheduled to  
> hold a hearing on HB 331/346, Sunday, Mar 8, at 1:30 pm at State  
> Capitol in House Finance Committee Room.
>
>
>
> #10: The House Finance Committee must pass HB 331/346 out of  
> committee before the bills can go to the House for a floor vote.
>
>
>
> #11: NENA's representative in the House is Rep. Larry Larranaga.  
> Rep. Larranaga also sits on the House Appropriations and Finance  
> Committee.
>
>
>
> I MIGHT AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE FOLLOWING ISN'T A FACT, BUT MAY BE  
> JUST MY OPINION: #12: Rep. Larranaga is a powerful, and well  
> respected legislator who listens to his constituents and wants to do  
> the best he can for our public schools.
>
>
>
> #13: Rep. Larranaga is planning to vote NO on HB 331/346 (Larry will  
> verify this if you call him - State Capitol: 986-4215, home:  
> 821-4948).
>
>
>
> #14:  Research and Polling, INC. did a survey of registered voters  
> on this issue. Friday's ABQ Journal, page 3 reported that a majority  
> supports HB 331/346.
>
>
>
> MY RECOMMENDATION TO CALL LARRY MIGHT BE AN OPINION, BUT IF YOU WANT  
> HIM TO VOTE NO, THEN YOUR OPTION TO CALL LARRY IS AVAILABLE TO YOU,  
> TOO: #15: If you believe HB 331/346 is in order, and we must  
> increase funding for our schools, please call Larry, and have others  
> who live at your home, who are registered voters, call him, too.
>
>
>
> John Adams Ingram, Dues-paying NENA member and former NENA President
>
>
> --- On Sat, 3/7/09, JEFFREY BETH PETERSON <ainsleyann at msn.com>wrote:
>
>
> From: JEFFREY BETH PETERSON <ainsleyann at msn.com>
> Subject: Re: [NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346
> To: members at noreste.org, "John Ingram" <ingram1ja at yahoo.com>
> Cc: ingram1ja at yahoo.com
> Date: Saturday, March 7, 2009, 9:41 PM
>
> John:
>
>
>
>  While I appreciate YOUR stance on the subject issue as well as your  
> past efforts to better our community through your involvement in the  
> neighborhood association, I have to believe that you well understand  
> that the NENA website is NOT intended for distributing political  
> OPINIONS or garnering support for said opinions. If you feel so  
> strongly about this, please feel free to go door to door in person  
> to make your case but please do NOT use the NENA website to promote  
> any agendas.
>
> You can continue the back and forth with the persons you have  
> engaged on this issue from your initial email and can CC me if you  
> wish, but please leave the remainder of the Association out of your  
> discourse. Anyone who wishes to discuss this further with you, may  
> do so on a one-on-one basis.
>
> Thank You
>
>
>
> Jeff Peterson,
>
> President, NENA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: John Ingram
>
> To: members at noreste.org
>
> Cc: ingram1ja at yahoo.com
>
> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 10:13 AM
>
> Subject: [NENA] Call Rep. Larry Larranaga about HB 331/346
>
>
>
> Hello NENA members:
>
>
>
> My name is John Ingram. I used to be president of NENA. I live on NW  
> corner of Henriette Wyeth and Oakland, 8901 Henriette Wyeth NE.
>
>
>
> There's an urgent matter regarding our public schools, and State  
> House Dist. 27 Rep. Larry Larranaga coming-up tomorrow, Sunday, Mar 8.
>
>
>
> Background: 3 years ago, the State Legislature commissioned a study  
> by outside professional group to determine why too many of our  
> schools and students are performing so poorly.
>
>
>
> The commission issued a report several months ago with the finding  
> that the State Legislature, which controls education funding, has  
> consistently underfunded our schools by about 15% a year, or $350  
> million annually. This goes back to 1982.
>
>
>
> FYI: in 1981, the Legislature voted to remove property taxes as the  
> sole source of school funding. Instead, they voted to be accountable  
> and responsible for funding our schools with state income taxes,  
> gross receipts/sales taxes, and a small percentage of the interest  
> generated by investing the $7.9 billion Permanent School Fund in  
> Wall Street.
>
>
>
> Since 1982, K-12 and (now) pre-K public school funding has steadily  
> declined from more than 50% of the overall NM state budget to 43%  
> today.
>
>
>
> However, the NM State Constitution legally requires theLegislature  
> to "sufficiently" fund our schools.
>
>
>
> The study commission reported that the State Legislature is not  
> meeting its constitutional mandate. School districts are threatening  
> to sue the Legislature in district court regarding this issue unless  
> they pass HB 331/346.
>
>
>
> House Bill 331/346, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, will help  
> correct this problem.
>
>
>
> House Bill 331/346 increases gross receipts/sales taxes by three- 
> quarters of one percent and produces about $350 million annually to  
> fund our public schools.
>
>
>
> Rep. Stewart amended the bills yesterday so HB 33/346 no longer  
> requires an increase in state income taxes for top earners who are  
> paying 4.9 percent rate.
>
>
>
> Now, the sole source of the additional $350 million generated by HB  
> 331/346 is the 3/4 of 1% increase in gross receipts/sales taxes.
>
>
>
> Rep. Stewart is a personal/professional friend of mine. I checked  
> with her yesterday about HB 331/346 and progress toward passing the  
> measures.
>
>
>
> Rep. Stewart informed me that the House Appropriations & Finance  
> Committee with hold a hearing on HB 331/346 tomorrow, Sunday, Mar 8,  
> at 1:30 pm at State Capitol in House Finance Committee Room.
>
>
>
> The House Finance Committee must pass HB 331/346 out of committee so  
> the bills can go to the House for a floor vote.
>
>
>
> NENA's representative in the House is Rep. Larry Larranaga.
>
>
>
> Rep. Larranaga also sits on the House Appropriations and Finance  
> Committee. He is a powerful, and well respected legislator who  
> listens to his constituents and wants to do the best he can for our  
> public schools. I've talked to him many times.
>
>
>
> However, Rep. Larranaga is planning to vote NO on HB 331/346tomorrow.
>
>
>
> If you believe that HB 331/346 is in order, and we must increase  
> funding for our schools, please call Larry, and have others who live  
> at your home, who are registered voters, call him, too.
>
>
>
> By the way, Research and Polling, INC. did a survey of registered  
> voters on this issue. Friday's ABQ Journal, page 3 reported that a  
> majority supports HB 331/346.
>
>
>
> Here are links so you can check this out if you need to:
>
>
>
> Rep. Larranaga , HB 331 , HB 346
>
>
>
> If you want, or need, to talk to me about this issue, my mobile  
> phone is 505-217-8020.
>
>
>
> Thanks for your consideration,
>
> John
>
> _______________________________________________
> Members mailing list
> Members at noreste.org
> http://noreste.org/mailman/listinfo/members_noreste.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Members mailing list
> Members at noreste.org
> http://noreste.org/mailman/listinfo/members_noreste.org

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