Maryland House, Senate Pass O'Malley Budget

The Maryland Senate passed Governor O’Malley’s budget with overwhelming support March 21. Only five Republicans voted against the budget, with seven Republicans joining 35 Democrats voting to support the budget.

The Maryland House of Delegates approved the governor’s proposed state budget March 15. The Democratic-controlled House voted 101-36 for the bill, largely along party lines. Both houses have approved a $36.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2014.

AFT-MD Reps Testify on Charter School Legislation

Members of the AFT-Maryland legislative team testified in opposition to four charter school bills for which hearings were held March 13. The bills proposed making a study of ways to improve to charter schools, allowing charter schools to directly hire school personnel, establishing an independent charter school advisory council, and proposing that charter schools be allowed to certify their own principals.

Call Congress on Valentine's Day

CALL CONGRESS on Valentine’s Day.

Tell Members to STOP HEARTLESS CUTS.

OPPOSE BENEFIT CUTS to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid

CLOSE LOOPHOLES for Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans and CANCEL SEQUESTRATION

BTU's 3rd Annual PSRP Conference

The Baltimore Teachers Union's 3rd Annual PSRP Conference took place on Friday and Saturday (2/8-9) at the Baltimore Convention Center and it was a great success. More than 500 PSRPs engaged in a long list of dynamic workshops.

Ruby Newbold, President of the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees and Quentin Lawson, the Executive Director of the National Alliance of Black School Educators were the guest speakers.

Mr. Lawson presented BTU with an award of recognition for the dedicated work that they do for education in Maryland. The award will be hanging in the BTU Office.