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Countdown to Special Ed Vote
The action has moved to the State Senate! Will the Senate vote on House Bill 704 before it leaves for a summer vacation? The whole State House of Representatives voted on June 23 to approve HB 704, 173 to 25. We have worked for two years on this legislation to reform the state system of special education funding and accountability.
Follow the action here on PaSchoolTalk.org, as I blog about the up-to-the-minute developments in the Capitol and around the state. The latest updates are on the second page -- click at bottom of this page.
Check out www.ReformSpecialEdFunding.org for action steps and talking points, so that you can read more about the bill, call your own State Representative, or sign our online petition.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on -
The House is scheduled to come back into session at 1:00 p.m. today (Monday). There will be informal discussions about HB 704 between representatives, but a formal vote on our bill will happen at the earliest on Tuesday afternoon.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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We are at an interesting stage in the legislative process. Seven representatives have stated their intention to offer amendments to HB 704. Negotiations are happening behind the scenes to resolve the issues raised by the amendments. The real question is whether HB 704 will get a vote on its own merits, or will other issues get in the way?
Click here to read about the amendments -- http://reformspecialedfunding.org/2010/05/two-week-delay-for-hb-704....
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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Not as much progress today as we hoped. The back room negotiations continue. Your calls to your own state representatives can help move HB 704 to a successful vote by focusing them on the needs of students with disabilities. Action steps and talking points are at ReformSpecialEdFunding.org.
Stay tuned for more news tomorrow (Tuesday).
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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I just got home from the office, after wrapping up some work to prepare for the vote on our bill. At least it's before midnight. I received several e-mails this evening from hard working parents and advocates who spoke with their state representatives. They report that the legislators support HB 704, but are waiting to see how the politics play out on the House floor. Let's hope that our representatives vote their conscience and do what's right for children with disabilities and all students.
Thanks to everyone for working so hard on this issue. You can help by calling your state representative on Tuesday.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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Looks like the vote on HB 704 is likely to take place on Wednesday (tomorrow). Representative Sturla (Lancaster) continues to be a true champion for children with disabilities. He and his staff are fighting as hard as they can to work in a bipartisan manner and move the special education bill to a successful vote in the House. They are constantly talking with their colleagues in the House and helping others to understand the importance of special education.
You can help Representative Sturla by calling your own state representative today. Click here for action steps and talking points.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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This just in -- We will know at 2:00 p.m. today whether there is a final agreement in place that will allow HB 704 to have a successful vote before the whole House of Representatives on Wednesday (tomorrow). I will be holding my breath until then.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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Now I know what it means to "get your ducks in a row." There are many pieces that must be put in place before the vote on HB 704 can take place on Wednesday. Seven representatives must withdraw their amendments. The attorneys in the capitol must review and approve the final language in the bill. The leaders in the Democratic and Republican caucuses must give their final approval. And on and on and on. Representative Sturla's staff is handling all of this with diplomatic grace. Keep your fingers crossed!
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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It's Wednesday. Good morning. Thanks for checking in. Every member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives woke up this morning, just like you and me. They got dressed and brushed their teeth (I hope), just like you and me. When we speak with the representatives about HB 704, they express their strong support for fixing the state system for special education funding and accountability . . . . . just like you and me. They want their party leaders to give them an opportunity to vote on our bill, just like you and me. Today should be the day. Will our unity of purpose survive the day?
Click here to watch the House debate live on the internet. HB 704 will probably not come up for debate until around 2:00 p.m. today.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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Another delay for House Bill 704! The State House of Representatives is tied up in knots due to the debate on raising taxes to fill in the budget deficit. The tax debate will continue today, both on and off the House floor, and prevent any other business from getting done.
Representative Sturla, the lead sponsor of HB 704, asked me to assure you that the House will vote on our special education bill. It now looks like the vote will be on Monday. He has done and will continue to do everything possible to ensure that this will be a successful vote.
Keep the faith. And let’s use the extra time to get even more signatures for our online petition and to contact our state representatives to support HB 704. Action steps and talking points are at ReformSpecialEdFunding.org.
Let me know what else we can do to support your efforts.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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Thanks for checking back in. The special education bill certainly has been on a roller coaster ride over the last couple of weeks. Your continued patience, support, and action is most appreciated.
Here is the latest news on House Bill 704 - Our lead sponsor, Representative Sturla, has successfully negotiated with the seven legislators who had stated their intentions to offer amendments to the bill on the House floor. All amendments should now be pulled back, allowing a "clean" vote on the bill itself. This means that the whole House should debate and vote on HB 704 starting after 1:00 p.m. on Monday. You can watch live at http://www.house.state.pa.us/Video/HouseVideo.cfm.
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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We are soooo close to the finish line (at least in the House). We just put out an alert for parents and advocates to make calls to Representatives Smith and Eachus.
If you live in the legislative district of either Representative Sam Smith or Representative Todd Eachus, these two leaders of the State House of Representatives need a little encouragement to allow a vote today on our special education bill, House Bill 704.
Please tell parents and advocates living in the Smith and Eachus districts to call their Harrisburg offices and ask them to allow a vote today on HB 704. The bill deserves a vote without other, unrelated issues complicating the situation.
Thank you for taking this quick action. Call me if you need additional information.
Baruch Kintisch, Director of Policy Advocacy, Education Law Center, 215-238-6970, ext. 320
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Permalink Reply by Baruch Kintisch on
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On Monday, the Democratic and Republican leaders slowed down the bill for one day to work out disagreements on other issues not related to special education.
Some calls to Representatives Smith and Eachus were made on Monday, but more calls are needed from constituents living in their districts on Monday evening (leave a voice mail) or on Tuesday morning. Tell them to allow a vote on HB 704 on Tuesday. Students with disabilities are counting on these funding and accountability reforms.
We are very close to achieving victory in the House. Please help us get over this final hurdle.
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