Current Legislation - Oct. 4, 2012

TAKE A VETERAN TO SCHOOL DAY:  SR27 (Van Drew. Bucco) passed in the Senate and has been filed with the Secretary of State.  This resolution would encourage school districts to participate in “Take a Veteran to School Day,” a national program developed by the History Channel.  The event offers an opportunity for schools to invite veterans to share their experiences and receive thanks for their service to the country.  It would provide students with the chance to understand the meaning of Veteran’s Day and the importance of honoring the bravery and sacrifice of all veterans by hearing actual stories from veterans.  NJEA supports this resolution.

CITIZENS UNITED:  SR47 (Van Drew)  The full Senate passed SR47, a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision responsible for the creation of the so-called “super PACs” flooding Presidential, Congressional, and State campaigns with unlimited private money.  This resolution is part of a nationwide action to get multiple states across the country to indicate support for the constitutional amendment to overturn the law.  SR47 would ask Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to declare that corporations are not “people” and that these types of unfettered political contributions should be restricted.  The resolution was filed with the Secretary of State; the Assembly version awaits action in that house.

RESOLUTION ON VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS:  ACR124 (McHose, Munoz, Gove, Singleton, Tucker)/SCR121 (Beach, Bateman) passed in the Senate and has been filed with the Secretary of State. NJEA supports this concurrent resolution, which urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that permits all veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to transfer their education benefits to dependents. Under current law, only those who served on or after August 1, 2009 have the ability to transfer benefits to their dependents.