Good News....

"This just in from ISTA's Nate Schnellenberger:

Thanks to the efforts of Association members and staff across the country, the U.S. Senate is in the final stages of passing the federal jobs bill that will provide much-needed fiscal aid to the states.

The Senate today voted for cloture to proceed to a vote on Sen. Harry Reid's education jobs legislation by a vote of 61-38. Senators Snowe and Collins, both Republicans from Maine, crossed party lines and voted to put students and local communities first. The Senate, by the same vote, beat back a procedural budget point of order raised by Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Despite the fact that the Congressional Budget Office determined that the legisation would actually REDUCE the federal deficit by $1.4 billion over ten years, these two Senators tried to further stall the legislation.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh supported teachers and public education by voting with the majority on these votes. If you have time, please call or email Sen. Bayh and thank him for his support.

A few steps remain -- this legislation still needs to pass the U.S. Senate and be passed by the House of Representatives before it goes to President Obama for his signature."