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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

MA Teachers Association Promotes Major School Funding Campaign

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Wednesday, November 14, 2018   

QUINCY, Mass. — This is American Education Week, celebrating public schools across the U.S. And in Massachusetts, one of the messages this year is that schools need a lot more financial support.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association is advancing its "Fund Our Future" campaign this week, asking for more than $1.5 billion in additional education funding. MTA President Merrie Najimy said the state's foundation budget for pre-K through grade 12 is underfunded by about $1 billion.

"And then, our estimate is that higher education is underfunded by more than half-a-billion dollars a year,” Najimy said. “So, we're talking about $1.5 billion dollars every year."

Najimy was hoping the Fair Share Amendment, or so-called millionaires' tax, would be on the November ballot. It was expected to raise $2 billion for education and transportation expenses. But in June, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled the amendment was unconstitutional because it had more than one purpose, by imposing a tax and stipulating where the funding was going.

Now, Najimy said, the MTA's primary focus is to persuade the legislature to increase education funding.

"We were anticipating that the legislators, and through the ballot initiative, would have done the right thing and would have funded education,” she said. “But since that seems to be nowhere in sight, we've just created our own campaign."

Information about the Fund Our Future campaign is available at massteacher.org.


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