What progress looks like
Friends, things are happening in a few places....
Congratulations first to the teachers in our neighboring state of West Virginia. This state has long been known as one of the lowest spenders on education of its children (48th in the Union at last report) and their teachers finally reached a breaking point, striking for nine days until finally the state legislature voted to give all teachers (and many state workers) a 5% pay increase.
The only catch is that a member of the legislature acknowledged that the money will come from general cuts in Medicaid and other services. So they're robbing Peter to pay Paul, it seems.
Regardless, the teachers uniformly stated that they knew when they became teachers that they'd chosen the wrong profession in which to become wealthy, but this was about creating stability for students, so that teachers could afford to stay in their positions. That's a noble thought. I sincerely hope it works out.
That would likely never happen here in Kentucky, where there is widespread panic over the state of the retirement system our teachers have relied on for a long time. The latest developments center on benefits that retired teachers receive, including health insurance and cost-of-living increases. And things will be different for new teachers, as they'll be put into a cash-balance retirement plan that is less lucrative than a traditional pension, but supposedly safer than a 401K plan like most non-government employees have.
Kentucky's teachers have reportedly been watching the goings-on in West Virginia and may be considering a strike over pay and retirement benefits. Stay tuned on that.
Florida's legislature appears to be close to passage of a gun control bill, largely on the strength of the movement of the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The bill adds a three-day waiting period on the purchase of the gun, and those purchasing firearms would have to be 21 years of age before being allowed such a purchase. And there are aspects that address arming certain school employees, but not teachers. And it does not ban semi-automatic assault-style weapons.
But it's a start.
Contrast that with the United States Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that late last week that his body would not be taking up debate of any gun control legislation or any action toward the resolution of DACA, the controversial program concerning those young people and children brought to this country by emigrating parents. The Senate, instead, is debating a banking bill that will ease some regulations put into place during the 2008 financial crisis.
McConnell is from my home state of Kentucky, of course.
I won't make an attempt to detail what the Russia probe, led by former FBI Director Robert Mueller, has shifted focus toward in recent days, but suffice it to say that the number and speed of subpoenas for information and grand jury appearances probably indicates that his group is also progressing in carrying out its work.
About the only progress we're seeing from the White House is that they continue to jettison high-ranking officials with dizzying speed. Late yesterday senior economic advisor Gary Cohn announced his resignation, in part because he could not persuade President Trump not to move forward with tariffs on imported steel and aluminum that could spark a trade war with certain trading partners.
Last but not least, I'll just mention that our weather seems to be in a pattern of confusion right now....our weather was sunny in the high 50's yesterday afternoon. It snowed overnight.
Oh, well.
Congratulations first to the teachers in our neighboring state of West Virginia. This state has long been known as one of the lowest spenders on education of its children (48th in the Union at last report) and their teachers finally reached a breaking point, striking for nine days until finally the state legislature voted to give all teachers (and many state workers) a 5% pay increase.
The only catch is that a member of the legislature acknowledged that the money will come from general cuts in Medicaid and other services. So they're robbing Peter to pay Paul, it seems.
Regardless, the teachers uniformly stated that they knew when they became teachers that they'd chosen the wrong profession in which to become wealthy, but this was about creating stability for students, so that teachers could afford to stay in their positions. That's a noble thought. I sincerely hope it works out.
That would likely never happen here in Kentucky, where there is widespread panic over the state of the retirement system our teachers have relied on for a long time. The latest developments center on benefits that retired teachers receive, including health insurance and cost-of-living increases. And things will be different for new teachers, as they'll be put into a cash-balance retirement plan that is less lucrative than a traditional pension, but supposedly safer than a 401K plan like most non-government employees have.
Kentucky's teachers have reportedly been watching the goings-on in West Virginia and may be considering a strike over pay and retirement benefits. Stay tuned on that.
Florida's legislature appears to be close to passage of a gun control bill, largely on the strength of the movement of the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The bill adds a three-day waiting period on the purchase of the gun, and those purchasing firearms would have to be 21 years of age before being allowed such a purchase. And there are aspects that address arming certain school employees, but not teachers. And it does not ban semi-automatic assault-style weapons.
But it's a start.
Contrast that with the United States Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that late last week that his body would not be taking up debate of any gun control legislation or any action toward the resolution of DACA, the controversial program concerning those young people and children brought to this country by emigrating parents. The Senate, instead, is debating a banking bill that will ease some regulations put into place during the 2008 financial crisis.
McConnell is from my home state of Kentucky, of course.
I won't make an attempt to detail what the Russia probe, led by former FBI Director Robert Mueller, has shifted focus toward in recent days, but suffice it to say that the number and speed of subpoenas for information and grand jury appearances probably indicates that his group is also progressing in carrying out its work.
About the only progress we're seeing from the White House is that they continue to jettison high-ranking officials with dizzying speed. Late yesterday senior economic advisor Gary Cohn announced his resignation, in part because he could not persuade President Trump not to move forward with tariffs on imported steel and aluminum that could spark a trade war with certain trading partners.
Last but not least, I'll just mention that our weather seems to be in a pattern of confusion right now....our weather was sunny in the high 50's yesterday afternoon. It snowed overnight.
Oh, well.
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