The attached letter, signed by PAGE Executive Director Dr. Allene Magill
and Legislative Director Tom Wommack, was delivered Friday, March 20 to
Senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee and we expect it to
reach all Senators by Monday, March 23.

The letter commends the House for passage last week of a budget that
does not include furloughs; funds school nurses and honors the state's
commitment to national board certified teachers. We urge the Senate, in
their budget approval process, to concur with the House.

PAGE also commends the House for retaining the 75%-25% healthcare cost
formula between employer and employee. We understand it will mean a
slight premium increase, but the budget originally submitted by the
governor called for changing that formula to 70%-30% which would have
meant significant premium increases for employees. Again, we urge the
Senate to concur with the House on this important item for educators and
their families.

Next week we will be encouraging PAGE members to contact their Senators
to reinforce our message of concurrence with the House approved budget.