Great Job! The Rally Was a Success!

The AEA rally, held Saturday to advocate for increased health insurance funding, was a great success! Almost 400 people attended, and the event was covered by four local television stations.

Presenters during the rally made clear the plight of education professionals, many who struggle under a severe financial burden in order to have health insurance coverage. Mary Alumbaugh, president of the Searcy Education Association, and Rhonda Smith, a teacher for the Mayflower School District, spoke about the problems they face under the teachers' family insurance plan. Laura Montgomery from Pulaski County PASS told attendees about difficulties with the paraprofessionals' family insurance plan.

But perhaps the seriousness of the health insurance situation was most clearly demonstrated on a sign carried by an employee from the Pocahontas School District. This sign clearly and succinctly laid out the woman's own financial plight:
>>Her net monthly salary after taxes is $1,232.06.
>>Health insurance costs $753.30
>>Dental insurance costs $75.10
>>Vision insurance costs $21.95

By the time she gets her paycheck after these insurance deductions, she only has $381.71 a month to pay for the other necessities of life.

Several state legislators have committed to helping find the revenue needed to fund the improved health insurance program that education professionals so desperately need. We would like to thank the following legislators for speaking at the rally: Rep. Monty Betts; Rep. Nancy Blount, House Education Committee vice chair; Rep. David Cook, House Education Committee; Rep. Jodi Dickinson; Sen. Joyce Elliot, Senate Education Committee; Sen. Jimmy Jeffress, Senate Education Committee chair; Rep. Jim Nichols; Rep. Barbara Nix; Rep. Johnnie Roebuck; and Rep. Randy Stewart.

In addition, Rep. Bill Abernathy, House Education Committee chair, and Rep. Kathy Webb prepared messages that were read during the rally.

AEA will continue its efforts to acquaint legislators and Gov. Beebe with the need for improved health insurance funding. Recent information indicates that the health insurance program is a ticking time bomb, and without a significant increase in state and/or local school district funding, it is only a matter of time before it will self-destruct.