Why You Should Vote AGAINST Question B:
On Nov. 4th, Montgomery County voters will decide on ballot Question B, which would:
“Amend Section 305 of the County Charter to require a unanimous vote of 9 Council members, rather than the 7 of 9 votes currently required, to levy a tax on real property that will produce revenue that exceeds the annual limit on property tax revenue set in that section.”
- Our quality of life and quality public services will be lost if Question B passes.
- This issue was placed on the ballot by Robin Ficker – Montgomery County’s notorious ballot question gadfly.
- Current law already caps property tax increases and requires a super-majority vote of 7 of 9 County Council members to override that cap -- a strong restraint on property taxes increases.
- Increases for all property taxpayers are already limited to no more than 10% a year – and nothing about Question B changes that.
- If Question B had been in place, the Council could not have approved a budget for this year. Question B would give any 1 Councilmember the power to block the will of the other 8 Council members
- In 2004, both The Washington Post and the Gazette opposed the same issue when it was on the ballot then; with the Post saying “It's a bad idea, and Montgomery voters should say no.”
- Pass the word on to your friends and family in the county.
- For more information about Question B, click here.
- To volunteer to help defeat Question B, click here
Help ensure that all workers gave the choice to join a union; your immediate action is required
The House of Representatives has passed the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800), which would restore workers' freedom to organize, including by establishing stronger penalties for harassment and other violations of employee rights when workers seek to form a union.
The Senate has been unable to get enough votes to move the bill forward for a vote.
MCEA has teamed up with SEIU Local 500 and MCAASP to urge all of our members to support this bill. Postcards should be available at your school. Please fill one out and return it to the administrative secretary. This must be done by Friday, August 22nd, in order to be counted.
For more information or to send an email to your senator, please click here http://www.nea.org/lac/union/index.html
MCEA’s Candidate Recommendation Process
MCEA conducts one of the most thorough candidate screening processes of any organization in the county. Click here for details on the process and the criteria used by MCEA in evaluating candidates for public office. If you have any questions, or are considering running for office yourself, contact us.MCEA Lobbies for Full Funding for Education; Progressive Tax Reform
Today, MCEA President Bonnie Cullison issued a letter to all the members of the Montgomery County legislative delegation urging them to resist proposals being floated to cut back on promised state aid for public education. Ms. Cullison also urged our legislative representatives to support progressive tax reform. Click here to read the full text of MCEA’s letter. For a detailed presentation on the proposed tax reform package proposed by the Governor, you can review the Governor’s PowerPoint Presentation on the Budget.
If you wish to communicate with the Governor's office or a member of the legislature, you can easily do so by going through the MSTA website at www.mstanea.org .
Urge the County Council to Support Full Funding for Our Schools!
The County Executive has proposed a budget that leaves the Montgomery County Schools $20 million short. The County Council is fast approaching final action on the budget. County residents who support funding for our schools are urged to contact Council members in support of school funding.
To learn more about the current budget debate, read the Budget Fact Sheet.
To contact members of the County Council:
Written correspondence can be sent to County Council members at:
County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville MD, 20850
Council member / Council Seat/District
Phone E-mail
Phone E-mail
Phil Andrew - District 3: Rockville, Gaithersburg
240-777-7906 councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov
Roger Berliner - District 1: Bethesda, Potomac
240-777-7828 councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich - At-Large
240-777-7966 councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Valerie Ervin - District 5: Silver Spring, Kensington, Wheaton
240-777-7960 councilmember.ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov
Nancy Floreen - At-Large
240-777-7959 councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
Mike Knapp, V.P. - District 2: Montgomery Village, Germantown, Damascus
240-777-7955 councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
George Leventhal - At-Large
240-777-7811 councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marilyn J. Praisner, Pres. - District 4: Burtonsville, Briggs Chaney, Olney
240-777-7968 councilmember.praisner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Duchy Trachtenberg - At-Large
240-777-7964 councilmember.trachtenberg@montgomerycountymd.gov