Congress Acts: Teacher Tax Deduction Renewed

Congress stood with America 's educators last week when it voted to extend for two years a $250 tax deduction for educators' out-of-pocket classroom expenses. Credit goes to the more than 1,200 messages sent by NEA cyberlobbyists to their Senators and Representative and to the behind-the-scenes leadership of Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and John Warner (R-VA).

Congratulations! You made sure our elected officials did right by those teachers and paraprofessionals who reach into their own pockets so that students have adequate books, pencils, paper and art supplies. Together we made the difference.

Last-Minute, Short-Term Funding Fix Passes

Congress failed to complete action on the education spending bill for fiscal year 2007 before it adjourned last weekend, choosing instead to pass a funding stopgap measure called a "continuing resolution" that will be in effect only until mid-February. The continuing resolution punts the issue to the new Congress that convenes in January.

The continuing resolution, while not ideal, can be described as a partial victory because the proposed House and Senate bills for FY07 both contained significant cuts in funding for key education programs, including No Child Left Behind, Title I, Safe and Drug Free Schools, the after-school program and education technology.

Despite Opposition, Congress Expands D.C. Vouchers

In one of its last actions before adjourning for the year, Congress voted to increase the income cutoff for Washington, D.C's federally funded private school voucher program, the only one of its kind in the nation.

The stealth move to increase the income ceiling from 185 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty line came despite opposition from NEA, a group of 14 moderate Republicans led by Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL) and other groups and individuals who believe that funds would be better spent on strategies proven to maximize student achievement. Approximately 75 families will benefit from the increased limit, which amounts to an increased income ceiling for a family of four from $40,000 to $60,000 a year.

Stay tuned. NEA will mount an all-out effort to kill the voucher program in the 110th Congress.

Rural Schools Funding Source Gets Short Shrift

Despite efforts by NEA and the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, the 109th Congress failed to reauthorize The Secure Rural Schools & Community Act, which provides a guaranteed payment to counties and schools in timber-dependent areas.

NEA and our coalition partners had pushed for a one-year extension of the reauthorization in a number of vehicles moving at the end of the session. Efforts to get a last-minute extension were pushed aggressively by Representatives Walden (R-OR), DeFazio (D-OR), Barton (R-TX), and Thomas (R-CA). NEA will continue to advocate in the 110th Congress for reauthorization and funding of this critical program.