[CharterSchools] URGENT Common Core Help Needed Immediately

[charterschools at LACharter.org]

In a surprise move the House of Representatives is debating whether to force an anti-common core standards bill to be heard on the floor of the House instead of being referred to committee.
  
 
  
They will vote shortly. Please go to the link below and send a note to all House members asking them to vote against the motion to hear HB 373 in the committee of the whole and instead commit it to the House education committee as is the normal process. Please ensure that only House members are checked on the link below – no senate members of BESE Members. The email will come from you, not a website or other identifiable address.
  
 
  
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! THANKS!
  
 
  
Barry 
  

http://action.stand.org/page/speakout/contact?js=false
  
 
  
 
  
GEYMANN TO TAKE COMMON CORE BILL DIRECTLY TO HOUSE FLOOR.
  
Says Participation by Chairman in Unicorn Insult Suggests Tainted Committee Process.
  
On Monday, State Representative Brett Geymann (R – Moss Bluff) will take (HB373) to establish new, higher educational standards on a State level, directly to the floor of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He will move that the body recommit the bill to the “Committee of the Whole” to have the full House consider the legislation at a future date, rather than have the bill heard in the Education Committee. Representative Geymann says that many parents and opponents feel that the Committee process has been tainted by supporters of Common Core and that the bills won’t receive a fair hearing. He and others are outraged that the Alliance for Better Classrooms PAC, a local pro Common Core business group would insult the tens of thousands of Louisiana parents who are fighting for their children by placing pink unicorns on the desks of legislators and suggesting that opponents are simply delusional.
  
“I am deeply offended that certain groups are trivializing this issue and dismissing the legitimate concerns of tens of thousands of Louisiana parents and their children” said Representative Geymann.   “The parents we are representing don’t feel like they will get a fair hearing and the recent rhetoric validates their concerns “ Geymann said. “I feel a strong responsibility to ensure that this issue is debated in the full light of day in front of the entire House, rather than bottled up in Committee with a Chairman who openly aligns himself with a PAC on one side of the discussion” Geymann continued. “Education is the most important issue facing our state, and our parents and children deserve better than to be insultingly dismissed. This is the most distasteful thing I have seen in my entire career as a public servant. This pro-Common Core group is acting like ruling class elitists who think they know better than everyone else. It’s disgusting.” Geymann concluded.
  
Geymann’s motion will require a majority of House members present and voting to recommit the instrument to the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the bill at a future date.  The bill will not be taken up by the full House until notice requirements have been met so that Members can be on hand for consideration. There will be debate and a vote on the motion to recommit Monday, but the bill itself will not be debated until a future date.
  
Representative Geymann is joined by Representatives and Activists:
  
State Representative Bob Hensgens  (R – Abbeville)
  
“It is obvious the process has been poisoned on this issue. It now falls upon us to demonstrate that we are not controlled by a few rich men in a self interest club.  We owe it to our voters and even more we owe it to the good reputation of the House of Representatives   This issue must now be debated in the open!”
  
State Representative J. Rogers Pope (R – Denham Springs)
  
“Because of the results of statewide surveys which indicate deep dissatisfaction with CCSS, I feel that it is very important that every member of the Peoples House have the opportunity and responsibility to vote on this very important issue as they represent their constituents.”
  
Former State Representative Jane Smith, BESE Member (R – Bossier City):
  
“It has become abundantly clear, especially after the unicorn assault on parents, and the names listed in that group, that we have no hope of a fair hearing in committee.  This is too important an issue to not allow this entire body to voice its opinion.”
  
Anna Arthurs, physician, mother of four, Thibodaux, president of Lafourche Republican Women's Club:  
  
“Today we watch as David goes up against Goliath. Several brave legislators are taking extraordinary measures to try and return respect to the legislative process that they were sworn to uphold. The recent "unicorns are not real" stunt, orchestrated with the support of our education committee chairmen sends a very strong message to their fellow legislators and the citizens of this state. First, this message states that it is okay to mock and insult those parents, citizens and legislators who oppose Common Core and dare to disagree with these legislators and their big business supporters. Since polls have shown that it is a majority in this state who oppose Common Core, which is a large number of constituents who are insulted. Most importantly, this stunt sends   a message that any legislation brought forth to allow Louisiana to get out of Common Core and regain control of its educational standards without a simple rebrand of Common Core is dead on arrival in the education committees. It is obvious that there will not be a chance to have a fair unbiased debate in committee, so it is necessary for this legislation to be discussed with a larger committee of the whole.”
  
Sara Wood, Attorney, mother of four, St. Tammany Parish:
  
“There has never been an uprising to this extent where so many parents have risen to voice valid concerns.   The Common Core State Standards Initiative represents a fundamental transformation in education policy.  This is not a matter of expertise; this fundamental transformation is a matter affecting state sovereignty over education and whether control of education of children in Louisiana should be retained both directly and indirectly solely within the state.  The debate over such an unprecedented shift should be conducted before an enhanced committee of 105 representatives as opposed to 18 representatives merely because it affects normative and fundamental principles relative to education.  However such an enhanced process is now obviously necessary so as to provide a fair and just opportunity for citizens because the chairman of the education committee chose to exert influence and taint the entire process of the 18 member standing committee, when he had his name placed on a website in public support of a "unicorn attack" on mothers.  Chairman Carter felt it proper to reduce such important concerns relative to Common Core to a chauvinist insult against mothers fighting for their children stating our contentions are “make believe”.  Only a committee of the whole can preserve the integrity of a fair and democratic process and mitigate the public distrust that already existed and was furthered by Chairman Carter with his bias, unprofessional and disrespectful action.  We are respecting the committee process but merely want to enhance it to include all of the house representatives because all districts will be greatly affected by the outcome.”
  
Kathryn Goppelt, teacher and activist, mother of five, Gonzales, home educated her children, for almost two years she has travelled the state informing citizens about the Common Core Initiative: 
  
“Stuffed unicorns will not solve problems. The pro Common Core supporters have made a mockery of the process. Respectful debate with facts, not fairy tales, is in order.”
  
 
  
 
  
Barry Erwin
  
President
  
Council for A Better Louisiana
  
P.O. Box 4308
  
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
  
 
  
Ph: (225) 344-2225
  
 




Cheron Brylski
The Brylski Company
3418 Coliseum Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
www.brylskicompany.com
(504) 897-6110
FX (504) 897-0778
Cell (504) 460-1468




-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Erwin <erwin at cabl.org>
To: Barry Erwin <erwin at cabl.org>
Sent: Mon, Apr 20, 2015 3:41 pm
Subject: URGENT Common Core Help Needed Immediately


 
  
In a surprise move the House of Representatives is debating whether to force an anti-common core standards bill to be heard on the floor of the House instead of being referred to committee.
  
 
  
They will vote shortly. Please go to the link below and send a note to all House members asking them to vote against the motion to hear HB 373 in the committee of the whole and instead commit it to the House education committee as is the normal process. Please ensure that only House members are checked on the link below – no senate members of BESE Members. The email will come from you, not a website or other identifiable address.
  
 
  
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! THANKS!
  
 
  
Barry 
  

http://action.stand.org/page/speakout/contact?js=false
  
 
  
 
  
GEYMANN TO TAKE COMMON CORE BILL DIRECTLY TO HOUSE FLOOR.
  
Says Participation by Chairman in Unicorn Insult Suggests Tainted Committee Process.
  
On Monday, State Representative Brett Geymann (R – Moss Bluff) will take (HB373) to establish new, higher educational standards on a State level, directly to the floor of the Louisiana House of Representatives. He will move that the body recommit the bill to the “Committee of the Whole” to have the full House consider the legislation at a future date, rather than have the bill heard in the Education Committee. Representative Geymann says that many parents and opponents feel that the Committee process has been tainted by supporters of Common Core and that the bills won’t receive a fair hearing. He and others are outraged that the Alliance for Better Classrooms PAC, a local pro Common Core business group would insult the tens of thousands of Louisiana parents who are fighting for their children by placing pink unicorns on the desks of legislators and suggesting that opponents are simply delusional.
  
“I am deeply offended that certain groups are trivializing this issue and dismissing the legitimate concerns of tens of thousands of Louisiana parents and their children” said Representative Geymann.   “The parents we are representing don’t feel like they will get a fair hearing and the recent rhetoric validates their concerns “ Geymann said. “I feel a strong responsibility to ensure that this issue is debated in the full light of day in front of the entire House, rather than bottled up in Committee with a Chairman who openly aligns himself with a PAC on one side of the discussion” Geymann continued. “Education is the most important issue facing our state, and our parents and children deserve better than to be insultingly dismissed. This is the most distasteful thing I have seen in my entire career as a public servant. This pro-Common Core group is acting like ruling class elitists who think they know better than everyone else. It’s disgusting.” Geymann concluded.
  
Geymann’s motion will require a majority of House members present and voting to recommit the instrument to the Committee of the Whole for consideration of the bill at a future date.  The bill will not be taken up by the full House until notice requirements have been met so that Members can be on hand for consideration. There will be debate and a vote on the motion to recommit Monday, but the bill itself will not be debated until a future date.
  
Representative Geymann is joined by Representatives and Activists:
  
State Representative Bob Hensgens  (R – Abbeville)
  
“It is obvious the process has been poisoned on this issue. It now falls upon us to demonstrate that we are not controlled by a few rich men in a self interest club.  We owe it to our voters and even more we owe it to the good reputation of the House of Representatives   This issue must now be debated in the open!”
  
State Representative J. Rogers Pope (R – Denham Springs)
  
“Because of the results of statewide surveys which indicate deep dissatisfaction with CCSS, I feel that it is very important that every member of the Peoples House have the opportunity and responsibility to vote on this very important issue as they represent their constituents.”
  
Former State Representative Jane Smith, BESE Member (R – Bossier City):
  
“It has become abundantly clear, especially after the unicorn assault on parents, and the names listed in that group, that we have no hope of a fair hearing in committee.  This is too important an issue to not allow this entire body to voice its opinion.”
  
Anna Arthurs, physician, mother of four, Thibodaux, president of Lafourche Republican Women's Club:  
  
“Today we watch as David goes up against Goliath. Several brave legislators are taking extraordinary measures to try and return respect to the legislative process that they were sworn to uphold. The recent "unicorns are not real" stunt, orchestrated with the support of our education committee chairmen sends a very strong message to their fellow legislators and the citizens of this state. First, this message states that it is okay to mock and insult those parents, citizens and legislators who oppose Common Core and dare to disagree with these legislators and their big business supporters. Since polls have shown that it is a majority in this state who oppose Common Core, which is a large number of constituents who are insulted. Most importantly, this stunt sends   a message that any legislation brought forth to allow Louisiana to get out of Common Core and regain control of its educational standards without a simple rebrand of Common Core is dead on arrival in the education committees. It is obvious that there will not be a chance to have a fair unbiased debate in committee, so it is necessary for this legislation to be discussed with a larger committee of the whole.”
  
Sara Wood, Attorney, mother of four, St. Tammany Parish:
  
“There has never been an uprising to this extent where so many parents have risen to voice valid concerns.   The Common Core State Standards Initiative represents a fundamental transformation in education policy.  This is not a matter of expertise; this fundamental transformation is a matter affecting state sovereignty over education and whether control of education of children in Louisiana should be retained both directly and indirectly solely within the state.  The debate over such an unprecedented shift should be conducted before an enhanced committee of 105 representatives as opposed to 18 representatives merely because it affects normative and fundamental principles relative to education.  However such an enhanced process is now obviously necessary so as to provide a fair and just opportunity for citizens because the chairman of the education committee chose to exert influence and taint the entire process of the 18 member standing committee, when he had his name placed on a website in public support of a "unicorn attack" on mothers.  Chairman Carter felt it proper to reduce such important concerns relative to Common Core to a chauvinist insult against mothers fighting for their children stating our contentions are “make believe”.  Only a committee of the whole can preserve the integrity of a fair and democratic process and mitigate the public distrust that already existed and was furthered by Chairman Carter with his bias, unprofessional and disrespectful action.  We are respecting the committee process but merely want to enhance it to include all of the house representatives because all districts will be greatly affected by the outcome.”
  
Kathryn Goppelt, teacher and activist, mother of five, Gonzales, home educated her children, for almost two years she has travelled the state informing citizens about the Common Core Initiative: 
  
“Stuffed unicorns will not solve problems. The pro Common Core supporters have made a mockery of the process. Respectful debate with facts, not fairy tales, is in order.”
  
 
  
 
  
Barry Erwin
  
President
  
Council for A Better Louisiana
  
P.O. Box 4308
  
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
  
 
  
Ph: (225) 344-2225
  
 
 

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