A Lesson in Democracy

I began my teaching career as a seventh-grade social studies teacher. An important part of that curriculum was teaching about the American Revolution, the Constitution and the three branches of government that provide the checks and balances our forefathers thought were so important. I’m sure those of you teaching American government are emphasizing many of the same things.

Sure, it may have been a simpler time in our history, but I wonder what the reaction of the authors of the Constitution would be to the way our system works today. I’m referring to the way the Congressional committee system has evolved. I believe I’m fairly politically astute, but I still can’t understand why the Social Security Fairness Act (House Resolution 147) with 322 cosponsors, a clear majority, can’t get voted out of committee.

For the past five years, the NEA has made full repeal of the Social Security offsets a top legislative priority. We began with 125 bipartisan cosponsors, and each year the list has grown. The latest addition to the Missouri cosponsor list was Representative Sam Graves, who joined Emerson, Cleaver, Clay, Carnahan and Blunt. This progress would not have been possible without the grassroots effort and support of NEA members nationwide.

The roadblock appears to be one person, Congressman Bill Thomas (R-LA), chair of the very powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is not running for re-election this year, but that is certainly not a guarantee that his replacement will be any different in his or her position on this issue.

The 109th Congress will end soon. We can quit our effort now and wait for a new Congress. But if we do, we start anew when the 110th Congress convenes in 2007.

We have too much momentum going – and have put in too much effort – to give up now. I urge you to contact your Congressperson now. Ask for help in getting the Social Security Fairness Act out of committee for a full vote in the House. The 109th Congress still has time to show that it does believe in majority rule.

For talking points on this and other key federal issues as well as direct links to your Congressional representative, go to www.nea.org.