LAE Leaders Authorize Legal Action
6/9/2012
Leaders of the Louisiana Association of Educators Authorize Legal Action
LAE Board Authorizes Suit Challenging Constitutionality of Governor's Voucher Program
BATON ROUGE, LA – LAE leaders announce their authorization of a suit challenging the constitutionality of Governor Jindal’s voucher program. LAE President Joyce Haynes commends association leaders on their decision to move forward with legal measures.
“The constitutional missteps made by our Governor must be seriously examined,” she said. “I’m pleased that the representative membership of LAE agrees with that.”
In a meeting held Saturday, the LAE Board of Directors discussed specific constitutional issues surrounding the passage of Acts 1 and 2 of the 2012 Regular Session. The Board authorized the filing of litigation necessary to protect Louisiana’s constitution. The reasons for authorizing litigation included the Louisiana Legislature’s failure to follow the constitution in the approval of the MFP formula; the legislature’s approval of the concept that “the money follows the child” in the funding of vouchers for public funds to private or parochial schools; and the legislature’s approval of the diversion of property and sales tax dollars approved by voters in one school district to be used in another school district under the voucher program.
Board members expressed how they felt about Governor Jindal using “strong-arm” tactics to coerce his leadership in the House of Representatives to vote in a manner contrary to the House’s rules of operation. The LAE board authorized legal challenges to Act 2 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 99. LAE will monitor the Act 1 legislation in favor of proactively working with local association leaders and local stakeholders to protect LAE members’ working conditions and compensation rights.
“LAE has always been an organization whose members are open to collaboration,” said Joyce Haynes. “Regardless of how we proceed, we’ll continue to work with other education stakeholders, as it is our belief that this is where the real work of helping to improve student achievement takes place.”
Haynes went on to say that association leaders will continue to focus on developing working relationships and strengthening LAE advocacy for all public school employees parish by parish.
“We will aggressively continue our appeal to the courts to examine unconstitutional practices of Governor Jindal and the Louisiana Legislature because we champion the right of school district tax payers, parents and students to receive the tax dollars promised to them by the Louisiana Constitution.”
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