Tag Archives: New Hampshire

Keene: Parking Enforcement Officers Deserve Our Respect, Not Harassment From Free-Keene ‘Robin Hoods’

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 16, 2013 - 8:09 pm | ,
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aft sqaure

Members of the Free-Keene movement, calling themselves “Robin Hoods”, have repeatedly taunted, interfered with, harassed, and intimidated Keene’s Parking Enforcement Officers, (PEO’s), in the performance of their employment duties by following, surrounding, touching or nearly touching, and otherwise harassing the PEO’s in groups of one, two, or more in an attempt to prevent them from doing the job they were hired to do.

These employees have a right to do their job without intimidation, interference, harassment or taunts. AFT-NH strongly supports the city’s request for an injunction against the Free-Keene group to keep them at least 50 feet from an on-duty parking enforcement officer.

AFT-NH also supports the fact that the City is not asking the “Robin Hoods” to give up their constitutional rights to video record the PEO’s from a comfortable distance or otherwise to express their opinion; rather, the City is asking only to prevent this group from taunting, interfering with, harassing, and intimidating the PEO’s, by establishing a safety zone between the PEO’s and the “Robin Hoods” while the PEO’s are performing their duties.

NH Letter Carrier Risks His Own Life To Save Another From A Burning Building

  By Matt Murray | May 7, 2013 - 7:47 pm | , ,
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TonyMeme

Letter carrier have always held a special place in our hearts. It is the letter carrier who delivers our mail six days a week, but a letter carrier is much more than that. To children they can be like Santa Clause bringing gifts in the mail. To others they provide lifesaving medicine. For some the letter carrier is the only person they see every day.

For many years letter carriers have been our friends. We thank them with gifts and treats in our mailboxes at Christmas. We thank them for doing their job every day now matter what the weather may throw at them. Every day the mail gets through.

Letter carriers are also a part of our neighborhood watch program. Notifying the police if an elderly resident does not come to the door, or see that nobody has been at the house in days. They notice little things like a dog barking frantically, which alerts them to a possible problem.

On Saturday, Bill Kelly will be ever grateful to his letter carrier Tom Sapienza.

“Several people, including a mailman, ran into a burning building on Merrimack Street on Saturday looking for residents feared trapped in a fire…” (Union Leader)

Tom, a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers risked his own life to run into a burning building to look for residents. Not many people would think of the mailman as the first person to run into a burning building but that is exactly what Tom did. Then when it was over he went right back to doing what he does every day, delivering the mail.

TonyMeme“Sapienza, after being treated, returned to his postal truck, saying he wasn’t allowed to talk to reporters but wasn’t planning on going right home.

“I have to get back on my route,” Sapienza said. (Union Leader)

After risking his own life, he delivered all of the mail in his truck, all be it with a little delay.

Thank you Tommy for being an everyday hero.

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5-6-13 AFT-NH Legislative Update From President Laura Hainey

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 6, 2013 - 2:12 pm | , , , ,
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aft sqaure

DISAPPOINTING VOTE BY THE FULL SENATE THIS PAST THURSDAY

The full Senate voted on HB 142: relative to teacher evaluation systems. Senator Kelly brought forward an amendment to reinsert the following language:  Nothing in this subparagraph shall supersede collective bargaining rights under RSA 273-A. However this failed on a 12 to 12 vote and the following passed:
1 New Paragraph; School Boards; Duty to Provide Education. Amend RSA 189:1-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

III. School boards shall adopt a teacher performance evaluation policy, with the involvement of teachers and principals, for use in the school district. A school board may consider any resources it deems reasonable and appropriate, including any resources that may be provided by the state department of education. In this paragraph, “teacher” shall have the same meaning as in RSA 189:14-a, V.
AFT-NH is opposed to this bill as amended. It does include the involvement of teachers but it left out “Nothing in this paragraph shall supersede collective bargaining rights under RSA 273-A”.  We will ask that the House Education committee not agree with this amendment and the amended bill with then either be defeated or go to a committee of conference.

AFT-NH thanks Senator Kelly for putting forth the amendment with the collective bargaining language and also all the senators that voted in support of the amendment.

Once again, HB 187: relative to deliberative sessions in towns that have adopted official ballot voting, was special ordered to next session. This is the second time this has happened, and no date has been posted for when they will be meeting in full session.

This bill was submitted by retired AFT-NH member Marjorie Porter. This bill provides that the dollar amount agreed to in a collective bargaining agreement between a public employer and an employee organization shall not be modified by the legislative body of the public employer and that amount is what the voters should vote on.

AFT-NH supports this bill; we believe that what is negotiated in good faith should go before the voters for a vote and not be sidelined by a few. We hope that the Senate will pass it as well.

POSITIVE SENATE VOTES

The full senate did vote in favor of passage on HB 178: relative to public employer collective bargaining agreements. This will have the NH Public Labor Relations Board:

  • Post online training for collective bargaining and,
  • Maintain a record how political subdivisions vote on collective bargaining agreements and provide the legislature with an annual report.

AFT-NH supported  passage of this bill.

FULL HOUSE VOTE ON MAY 8TH

The full House will be voting on SB 166, relative to critical incident stress management and crisis intervention services, with a committee recommendation of ‘Ought To Pass.’ This bill establishes that information divulged during critical incident stress management and crisis intervention services is confidential, with limited exceptions specified in the bill. AFT-NH supports the passage of this bill. We feel it is important that we do something for our first responders to support and help them thought difficulty times.

ONGOING COMMITTEE WORK

The House Labor committee is still working on SB 100: AN ACT authorizing electronic payment of payroll. This bill will affect all public employees in New Hampshire. This bill will do the following:

  • Delete the requirement that an employer who pays wages by electronic fund transfer offer employees the option of being paid by check.
  • Permits an employer to pay wages with a payroll card after offering employees the option of being paid by direct deposit.

AFT-NH is opposed to this bill.  We understand that many employees do receive their paycheck by direct deposit but there are many who prefer the paper check and they should still have this option. It might be different if they were proposing the cost savings be shared with the employee.

SB 82: This bill establishes a commission for the purpose of identifying strategies for developing and implementing a competency-based public education. AFT-NH is staying neutral on this bill. We understand that moving to a competency-based system will take much time and consideration when developing this system. AFT-NH hopes that the final report will include recommendations for adequate time and staff development for the educators charged with implementing this new system.

If you are currently moving forward in implementing a competency-based system and you have concerns, suggestions and recommendations please send them to LHainey@aft-nh.org. This way we can makes sure they are passed along.

BUDGET HEARINGS

The Senate will be holding public hearings on HB 1: making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2015, and on HB 2: relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.

This is a good time to attend and express your support or concerns with the proposed budget. The Senate is working from the House’s budget and they will be making changes as they move through the process. To review all the documents that have been discussed click here.

These hearing are being held in Representatives’ Hall on May 9th at 3:00 p.m. − 5:00 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m. − 8:00 p.m. If you are not able to make the hearing you can listen to it at: mms://gencourt.state.nh.us/wmtencoder/housemedia.wmv

If you have any questions or concerns please email me at lhainey@aft-nh.org

In Solidarity,
Laura Hainey
AFT-NH President

UPCOMING HEARINGS FOR NEXT WEEK
Note the ones in red are priority bills for AFT-NH

TUESDAY, MAY 7

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Room 307, LOB
10:30 a.m. Continued executive session on SB 100, authorizing electronic payment of payroll,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 100, SH
9:00 a.m. Hearing on proposed non-germane amendment #2013-1356s to HB 124-FN, relative to the determination of gainful occupation for a group II member receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance from the retirement system.

THURSDAY, MAY 9

EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB
9:00 a.m. Subcommittee work session on SB 48, relative to school performance and accountability.

10:00 a.m. Executive session on
SB 82, establishing a commission to identify strategies needed for developing and implementing a competency-based public education system,

FINANCE, Representatives’ Hall, SH
3:00 p.m. − 5:00 p.m. HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of the state for fiscal years ending June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2015.
HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
6:00 p.m. − 8:00 p.m. HB 1-A, making appropriations for the expenses of certain departments of HB 2-FN-A-L, relative to state fees, funds, revenues, and expenditures.
Please note: The above Finance hearing will be streamed live via the internet at the following web address: mms://gencourt.state.nh.us/wmtencoder/housemedia.wmv

MONDAY, MAY 13

STATEWIDE EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (RSA 193-C:7), Room 103, LOB
10:00 a.m. Regular meeting.

TUESDAY, MAY 21

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 205, LOB
10:00 a.m. Subcommittee work session on retained HB 494, relative to the administration of glucagon injections for pupils.

THURSDAY, MAY 23

STATE FEDERAL RELATIONS AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, Room 203, LOB
9:00 a.m. Full committee discussion with the Congressional Delegation.

Two Years And Counting: NH Community College Adjuncts Still Waiting For A Contract.

  By New Hampshire Labor News | April 25, 2013 - 7:00 am |
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CCSNH SEIU1984 Adjunct Rally 4-23-13

On a damp and unseasonably chilly morning, adjunct faculty members from the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) peacefully and collectively demanded a contract Tuesday.

As previously reported, the adjunct faculty decided two years ago to form a union through the State Employees’ Association (SEA). They are still working to get their very first contract in place. A group gathered at Manchester Community College ahead of yet another mediation session between the educators and the administration.

Adjunct faculty member Heather Strine was among those who held signs, chanted and distributed informational flyers to students, fellow educators and administrators.

“We are here to call attention to our situation,” she said. “In addition to not having a contract, we are now faced with our teaching hours being cut back to two classes per semester.”

This translated to an annual salary of well under $20,000. Many of the adjuncts who participated in the event had the same complaint. They reported being told that full-timers will be given their courses; they are no longer needed. One adjunct commented, “We are merely contingent workers.”

Strine said that after making her own student loan payments and car payment each month, there is very little if any money left to clothe, feed and shelter her three children. “We will have to sleep in our car,” said Strine, who is a single mother.

Many of the adjunct faculty members spoke about their passion for teaching. They explained that they spend many hours outside the classroom prepping for class and staying current with the latest information, trends and technology in their respective disciplines.

“It is very humbling when students ask me how much I earn an hour,” Strine said. “I tell them that when you factor in the outside of classroom time, we make about $3.75 an hour, less than minimum wage.” She said that in most instances, the students earn more per year working at retail or hospitality jobs.

“We all have Master’s Degrees and PhD’s. We are professionals who are always counseling our students about the importance of an education,” said Ann Clune, another adjunct professor. “And, look at us. CCSNH is not practicing what they preach.”

Throughout the hour-long event, CCSNH President Dr. Susan D. Huard patrolled the entryway to the main building and peered out the window. At one point she had the head of campus security ask the adjunct faculty members and the SEA members to move. When asked what her concern was, she answered that her only concern was the students and their comfort level.

This doesn’t really jive with the way things are. Adjuncts provide 77 percent of teaching time to the students – their contribution to the students’ education far exceeds the full-time faculty. Yet, the college system’s president thinks the students feel threatened by them. It is far more likely the students will be “uncomfortable” when their favorite teachers are no longer employed.

If the adjunct faculty cannot garner support or respect from the administration, what does that say about the administration’s true thoughts about the students? Clearly the adjuncts are second rate educators in the administration’s eye. Yet, they appear to be perfectly good enough to educate community college students. This equation seems out of balance.

Post from SEIU 1984. Follow them on twitter @SEIU1984

 

Raising The Gas Tax To Fund Our Failing Infrastructure And Help Our Economy

  By Matt Murray | March 21, 2013 - 1:30 pm | ,
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ASCE Report NH

ASCE Report NH

There has been much debate over the last few weeks over the proposed 12-15 cent gasoline (road toll) increase.

HB 617 has been debated in every public forum and in nearly every media outlet in the state.  Many of the “No Tax” pledgelings say ‘no’ to any increase in the gasoline (road ) tax.  This is the completely wrong approach.

There is no denying that New Hampshire is failing to maintain our 16,000 miles of roads and bridges.  In fact the American Society of Civil Engineers just released their latest report on the state of New Hampshire’s infrastructure.  Surprise, it is not good.  Overall the report says as a whole the U.S. infrastructure rates at a D+.  For New Hampshire we came in a little better than average a ‘C’.  Below are a few of the items that the ASCE report found.

BRIDGES

  • 362 of the 2,429 bridges in New Hampshire (14.9%) are considered structurally deficient.
  • 445 of the 2,429 bridges in New Hampshire (18.3%) are considered functionally obsolete.

ROADS

  • Driving on roads in need of repair costs New Hampshire motorists $267 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $259 per motorist.
  • 54% of New Hampshire’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
  • New Hampshire has 16,006 public road miles.
  • New Hampshire’s highway vehicle-miles traveled in 2009 was approximately 9,922 per capita, ranking it 30thin the nation.
  • New Hampshire’s gas tax of 19.6 cents per gallon has not been increased in 21 years.

This additional money from the increase to the gas tax is specifically designed to combat this issue.  The increase will go directly to the roads and bridges.  This is a very important part of this bill that is being overlooked by many others.  Even on The Exchange with Laura Knoy, Senator Andy Sanborn tried to tell people that this money would not being going to roads but to State Police and others.  This was directly contrary to what Rep Campbell had stated on the show only moments before.

This increase will help New Hampshire in many ways.  It will help to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, and it will help our state economy.  By spending millions on road repair will help put more worker back to work.  Workers who earn a paycheck are not drawing unemployment and are spending money in the local economy.  This is a complete win-win.

Isn’t that our real goal, to create good paying jobs?  Then why have we not passed this already?

Congresswoman Annie Kuster Pushes Locally For A Fix To Forced Budget Cuts

  By New Hampshire Labor News | March 11, 2013 - 3:08 pm | , ,
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Annie Kuster at NE Council

Annie Kuster at NE CouncilEmphasizing the need for common sense and compromise in Washington, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Republicans and Democrats to work together to find bipartisan solutions to our nation’s fiscal challenges during a speech at a New England Council Congressional Roundtable breakfast with local business leaders.

“Here’s my bottom line. Yes, Republicans and Democrats have real differences. Yes, we will disagree on some issues,” Kuster said. “But let’s work together on the things we do agree on. Let’s do our part to restore peoples’ faith that Congress can still do the right thing. Let’s start solving problems instead of creating new ones.

During her remarks, Kuster praised her fellow freshmen colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their early efforts to find common ground, noting that meaningfully addressing our fiscal challenges will require both parties to compromise.

“None of us expects to agree on everything,” Kuster said. “We’re not naïve. We’re not blind to our differences. But we’re also not willing to let the things we disagree on prevent us from making progress on the things we do agree on.”

“We want to be part of a new era in Congress where bipartisan solutions are the rule, not the exception…No more my way or the highway demands. No more lurching from crisis to crisis. No more demonizing people you disagree with. Just a laser-like focus on working together to solve problems.”

In February, Kuster helped establish the United Solutions Caucus, a new bipartisan coalition of Republican and Democratic freshmen Representatives focused on resolving our nation’s fiscal challenges in a common sense, bipartisan way. In a letter to President Obama and House leadership last month, the group outlined a framework for addressing our fiscal challenges that’s focused on streamlining government, simplifying the tax code, generating new revenue, and cutting spending – while protecting Social Security and Medicare.

Don’t Miss: Your chance to support teachers and town employees

  By New Hampshire Labor News | March 5, 2013 - 4:05 pm | , , ,
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aft sqaure

PLEASE SUPPORT AFT-NH MEMBERS
Town Election Day is Tuesday, March 12th

aft sqaureWe have AFT-NH locals that have contracts coming before the voters on Tuesday March 12th. Your colleagues need your support! We also support our other Union colleagues who have contracts on the ballots in these towns and ask you to support them. For example, in Hudson many of the town employees have been without contracts for several years.  Please review the voting information below and vote on Election Day!

As fellow union members, we know we can make a difference in local elections! We are asking that if you live in one of the towns listed below that you support your fellow union members.

Please pass the word along and encourage others to get out and vote. Our members have negotiated extremely reasonable contracts. Any support you can provide would be great!

Thank you very much.

In Solidarity,

Laura Hainey
AFT-NH President

TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH

Ellis School Support Staff, AFT Local #6223  (Fremont)
Fremont Safety Complex  7am-8pm
Yes on Articles #5 and #6 (Please support the Fremont Teachers as well!)

Hudson Federation of Teachers , AFT Local #2263 and Hudson Federation of Paraprofessionals and School Related Personnel, AFT Local #6245
Lions Hall (Community Center) 7am-8pm
Yes on Articles #2 and #3  (Please also support the town employee contracts!)

Raymond Educational Support Staff  AFT Local #4863
Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Gymnasium 7am-7pm
Yes on Articles #3 and #4  

Timberlane Teachers’ Association, AFT Local #4796
(Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow and Sandown)
Atkinson     7am-8pm         Atkinson Community Center
Danville      8am-7pm         Danville Fire Association
Plaistow     7am-8pm         Pollard School
Sandown    8am-8pm        Sandown Town Hall
Vote Yes on Articles #4 and #5

NH AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie Pushes For A Higher Minimum Wage For NH Working Families

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 28, 2013 - 7:00 am | ,
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NH AFL-CIO Logo

For Cost-Effective Economic Development, Consider the Minimum Wage
By President Mark MacKenzie

President Obama raised the hopes of thousands of Granite Staters when he called for raising the minimum wage in his State of the Union address.

His words should also raise the hopes of our state leaders. We’ve seen intense debate in our Legislature and town halls over the past few years about how to strengthen our economy after the Great Recession and help working people get back on their feet.

For thousands of Granite Staters living on the edge, the minimum wage determines whether their jobs pay enough to make ends meet. Yet it isn’t just workers who have a stake in the minimum wage. The small businesses they patronize and the communities they live in all stand to gain from reestablishing New Hampshire’s minimum wage. If our leaders are serious about encouraging New Hampshire’s economic development, they will consider reestablishing the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.

Throughout the recession, Granite Staters relied increasingly on low-wage jobs to support their families. We lost nearly 6000 jobs between January 2012 and December 2012, according to the New Hampshire Economic & Labor Market Bureau.  Alarmingly, the largest losses were in construction, healthcare, education, local government and manufacturing – all sectors that historically pay a living wage. And of the sectors that added jobs, one third paid an average of $10.85 an hour.

This is not an isolated trend. Contrary to popular belief, changing the minimum wage will not just impact teenagers and semi-retired people. As wages for working families have fallen and breadwinners come to rely on low-wage jobs to support their families, the minimum wage plays an increasingly critical role in determining whether a job gets a family out of poverty or keeps them in it.

Most businesses in New Hampshire are small employers whose wellbeing is intimately tied to the strength of their local economy and the fortunes of their customers. Lower wages mean fewer nights out, fewer ice cream cones bought for our children, fewer gifts at Christmas and birthdays. They mean waiting another year to fix the muffler on our car or replace our old winter coat. Ultimately, by paying their employees more, local businesses fare better.

It’s been argued that raising the minimum wage will force employers to reduce hours for their employees or lay them off. That this will happen to a degree large enough to hurt our economy is, at this point, simple speculation. A 2010 study from economists at the University of North Carolina, University of Massachusetts, and University of California-Berkeley found “no detectable employment losses from the kind of minimum wage increases we have seen in the United States”.

The reason for that is quite simple – a minimum wage means customers with more money in their pockets.

As Governor Hassan and our Legislature come to an agreement over the state budget, they will be asked to make a lot of tough decisions on how to foster economic development in New Hampshire with the resources we have available.

What they choose to fund is ultimately a reflection of their priorities. Yet they should keep in mind that the minimum wage offers a simple way to foster economic development without spending resources from the state.

Ultimately, the debate over the minimum wage comes down to the type of economy that we want. Do we want an economy that relies on subsidizing the employers who pay their workers the least? Or do we want one that recognizes that every worker’s toil is worthy of a living wage?

Jobs should keep Granite Staters out of poverty, not in it. It is time to reinstate the minimum wage and create a path to prosperity for workers and their families.

The NH AFL-CIO Speaks Out Against Mandatory Budget Cuts And The Effect On NH Working Families

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 26, 2013 - 2:39 pm | ,
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NH AFL-CIO Logo

Sequestration Cuts to Employment Services to Hurt Over 6,104 Granite Staters Searching for Work 

Republicans take economy hostage to protect tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy

 A report from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that Congressional Republicans’ ‘threats to harm the economy by letting automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would cause New Hampshire to lose enormous funding for job training services, education and home heating assistance.

The report further proves that Republicans’ insistence on cutting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to pay for tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthiest 2 percent would directly harm working families.

These drastic cuts would slash $744,407 from critical job training and employment services, impacting 6,104 veterans, young workers and adults. Thanks to cuts in Workforce Investment Act adult and dislocated worker state grants, 963 fewer adult workers would have access to grants to help them retrain and find employment after layoffs. An additional 4,912 workers would be hurt by cuts to the DOL’s employment service.

Sequestration would also cut nearly $2.2 million in funds for New Hampshire from Title I, the largest federal-funded education program in the United States, meaning schools would be left struggling to pay for teachers and tutors. Critical grants for public safety would be cut back by $198,965, leaving local fire departments understaffed and working without necessary, critical equipment.

“Yet again, Republicans in Congress are threatening to throw the economy back into recession unless Democrats agree to benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” said New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie. “They are willing to allow deep across the board cuts that hurt working families to go into effect rather than close wasteful tax loopholes and demand corporations and the richest 2% pay their fair share. We need to invest in our economy and our people by creating more jobs, not cutting them. Congress must stop protecting corporations and the richest 2% and cancel the sequester immediately.”

Additional state cuts:  (State tables start on page 79)

  FY 12 Funding FY 13 Sequester Cut Impact
Department of Labor Job Training Grants $9,517,729 $744,407 6,104 fewer adults and young workers receive assistance with job training, including 171 veterans
Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies $4,881,449 $198,965 31 education jobs lost, 1,349 fewer students served and 15 fewer schools to receive grants
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program $26,055,007 $2,150,521 Less funding to provide home heating and cooling assistance to low-income individuals and families
Head Start  $15,590,172 $1,216,033 41 Head Start jobs lost and 194 fewer children served

 

The full report can be found at: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/500ff3554f9ba.pdf

Sequestration to cost State of New Hampshire
more than $6 million in federal funding

  By Liz Iacobucci | February 24, 2013 - 10:44 pm | ,
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DomesticSpending

The White House has released fact sheets showing state-by-state impacts of the automatic budget cuts known as “sequestration”, which are scheduled to go into effect on Friday. This year alone, state and municipal governments in New Hampshire will lose:

  • almost $3.3 million in federal funding for k-12 education
  • almost $1.8 million in federal grants for environmental protection, including fish and wildlife grants
  • more than $1 million in other funding for health programs, job training, justice programs and meals for seniors.

About 1,000 civilian Department of Defense employees will be furloughed, reducing their pay (and the amount they can spend in local businesses) by about $5.4 million. And other federal employees based in New Hampshire will also be furloughed.

Read the New Hampshire fact sheet here.

Domestic Discretionary Spending

During the past few Congress-created crises, federal spending has already been cut by over $1.4 trillion – bring domestic discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy since the Eisenhower era.

GOP House leadership refuses to do anything except cut spending even more. Read “The Republicans Make an Offer on Sequestration” here.

The Democrats’ plan is to defer the sequester with a mix of tax revenues and more-targeted spending cuts. Read more in the Washington Post here. In that mix: $54 billion would be raised by ensuring that that most millionaires pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes. But that proposal was immediately dismissed by GOP Senate leadership – and we all know the GOP’s record at filibustering legislation they don’t like.

At this point, most observers expect sequestration to go into effect as scheduled. Remember who created this crisis, when you see the trickle-down effect on state programs and local school districts.

Next crisis date to watch? March 27th, when the current budget resolution expires and the federal government faces shutdown.