Health vs. Education? Groups Refuse to Pick (NE)

September 15, 2010

Nebraska’s three major education groups have refused Gov. Dave Heineman’s attempt to pit education funding against the federal health care overhaul.

“We do not believe that we can make a choice between the health of a child and the education of a child,” Mike Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, said Tuesday. “They go hand in hand.”

The governor had asked the groups to support repeal of the federal health law or face likely cuts in state education funding.

The groups, representing teachers, school boards and school administrators, replied with a letter Friday urging the state to meet obligations in both areas.

“The educat ion of our children is of utmost importance, indeed, a constitutional responsibility,” they said. “The health of our citizens is also vital.”

The letter was sent by leaders of the Nebraska State Education Association, which represents teachers; the Nebraska Association of School Boards; and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

The groups also expressed support for a State Board of Education resolution opposing unfunded mandates. Board members unanimously approved the resolution Sept. 2.

After the board’s vote, the governor issued a statement saying he was “in complete agreement” with the resolution.

Jen Rae Hein, the governor’s spokeswoman, said Tuesday that Heineman appreciated the areas of agreement outlined in the groups’ letter — “that education is the top funding priority for the state, and a unified opposition to unfunded mandates.”

In their letter, the groups praised the governor for his leadership in opposing unfunded mandates.

“We understand the difficulty of managing mandates with insufficient resources,” they said.

But they illustrated the point by citing special education, a mandate imposed by both state and federal governments.

Neither state nor federal funds fully reimburse schools for the cost of special education, forcing property tax payers to pick up the difference, the letter said.

Heineman had sent a letter to the three groups on Aug. 25, urging them to support repeal of the federal health care law.

“If you sit silently by,” he said, “I am going to assume that your lack of action is tacit support for increas ed Medicaid funding and the likely reduction in funding for education.”