RH Jones re: SB 190 and HB 315

From RH Jones, February 3, 2008

Subject: Concerning SB 190 & present day HB 315

To my union member friends:

Senate Bill 190 is past tense. Active and retired STRS members benefited from its timely passage. My opinion is that it should not be changed. At the time the bill was made law -- and it is still true today -- the STRS is better off when teachers stay longer on the job.

What we need to concentrate our efforts on now is HB 315. The STRS will be better off with its passage. As like SB 190, we will all, both active and retired teachers benefit from its passage. For that matter so will the Ohio public. Any public spending on education, whether in the form of educator salaries, or on their contribution to the STRS retired health care, moves Ohio forward to better compete in the changing national and world economy. If Ohio is to rebound its economy, it MUST have a highly educated population. One way or another, paying educators now is part of the cost of Ohio’s economic insurance for prosperity.

By the way, the Canton Repository says that the Rep. Schuring education bill will be discussed next Tuesday, Feb. 5th

RHJones, Life member of CORE, ORTA, OEA/OFT, OEA-R, NEOEA-R, AEA, NEA/AFT, & ORTA