SAC (Strategic Action Committee)

The Grinch Who Stole From The Poor To Give To The Rich 

Strategic Action/Co-chair, Sandy Cutler

January 27, 2003 

Greetings, 

You may ask me, what is this “grinch stuff” all about and who is the grinch?  Quite the question to ponder, the grinch being as elusive as a fox leaving the hen house in the middle of the night.  It is difficult to tell who the grinch is.  However we do know that the grinch’s bag, in this political climate, is filled with budget cuts that always fall heaviest on the backs of those who can least afford it.  The axe is cutting deep into social services, health care, city and town funds and now it swings its sharp blade towards education. 

Massachusetts is not alone in its battle to balance the budget.  These are the times of a stagnant economy, a stock market that cannot move 5 steps forward without moving 6 steps backwards and an increased stress level due to the drum beat of an impending war that will further impact an already shaky economic state.  During these times we must garner our strength and hold onto our convictions, ready to do battle without loosing our courage.  Hold onto your hats! It looks like the Spring semester will catapult us into a whirlwind of political strategy and activity. 

The state budget is in the throes of an agonizing display of politics at its best and politics at its worst.  Our new governor now has the power to make cuts to balance the budget as he sees fit.  In an extraordinary show of “ I’m not taking the heat on this one”, our elected officials have given Governor Romney the ability to make budget cuts without oversight or trepidation.  This means that we will have to work harder than ever to have our voices heard by the legislators who we have elected to office. 

On January 17th the SAC Steering committee met to discuss issues and concerns that will be presented to the full SAC in March.  SAC is in a ready mode for any political action deemed necessary for the welfare of our students, our community colleges and our colleagues.  I am asking you to also be in this “ready mode” for political action as the battle to balance the state budget moves forward. 

As we move into this politically charged, tumultuous climate, I am reminded of the wise words of Joel Blachwell “You can have a powerful influence over elected officials.  Particularly when you are talking to the ones you can vote for”.  The relationship between our legislators and ourselves, in essence, is a symbiotic one.  They cannot be elected without us and we cannot move our issues forward without them.  With this in mind, SAC’s political agenda and legislative goals require all of us to become active in the political process.  

SAC’s goals for the spring semester are: 

• Continue to press forward on the legislative bill for part timer’s health and pension benefits and the bill for the 03 retirement buy back.  The 03 buy back bill was resubmitted by Representative Joan Menard.
• Once again we will be struggling to hold the line on our health care premiums.  This continues to be a burr in our side and looms larger than ever this semester.  The increase in premiums, on the table by the governor last semester, was defeated through a huge effort by state employees who “kicked in” and made the phone calls and personal visits to their legislators.  MCCC members showed their solidarity by joining in this struggle to defeat this measure.  VP Joe LeBlanc, President Rick Dowd, Roberta Albano and myself spent a long day at the state house, visiting all legislator’s offices, urging them to hold the line on premiums.  In the end, this victory was due to the action, energy and perseverance by all of us.  This increase in health care premiums is once again rearing its ugly head while the mantra of cuts, cuts, and more cuts becomes louder and louder.

On the up side...The MCCC newsletter will now be in your home mailbox.  SAC will be requesting nominations for legislators who have been “good friends” to the community colleges. We will be honoring two of them at the MCCC annual meeting.  Look for the nomination form in the newsletter. 

Stay tuned for more to come and if you have ideas or suggestions for political strategies, you know where to find me.  I am only an e-mail or phone call away.  Perhaps, just as in Dr. Suess’s book, the grinch will decide that it is better to work with us than to dismantle the common wealth… public education. 
 
Yours in solidarity,
Sandy