Tuesday Action Plan - Fully Fund IDEA

Now that we are fully informed about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) we are ready to write those emails, letters and faxes to our U.S. Senators and Representatives serving in the U.S. House. Please remind them that you are a constituent and remember to thank them for their service to our country - even if you would rather throw a pie in their faces!

If you didn't have time to read and need some help making a few points we have you covered. It's probably most effective if you use a reasonable voice, but a striking fax might read something like this:

Stop funding President Bush's tax cuts on the backs of disabled children.
Fully Fund IDEA now!

Sign you name, include your address, phone number and email address. This also makes a good phone message, short sweet email or note.

Many of us, however would rather have more substance to our missives. The following are a few statements you can use to fill out your letter.

• The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has been renewed for the past few years, but has not been fully funded. Actually, it's barely been funded at all. Shouldn't every child be guaranteed a quality public education regardless of their physical, mental or emotional abilities?
• Why does President Bush continue to push tax cuts for the very wealthy when the most vulnerable in our society, disabled children, are being denied a public education that meets their needs because our budget lacks the funds?
• Will you co-sign legislation to once again introduce IDEA legislation into Congress and then push for the full funding level of 40% instead of the anaemic 9-14% that has been funded in the past?

It's hard to imagine that the greatest (heh) country on earth doesn't do a better job of protecting and educating those children who are most vulnerable and most in need. This is a true Democratic ideal and we need to push that with our Reps. and Sens. - especially the Republicans. Won't it be nice to let them know that we are pushing one more area where they are weak and once it's public it won't be pretty.

You will find contact information for all North Carolina politicians in the BlueNC Take Action section. You will find a terrific article written by Robert Peterson at BlueNC if you want more information and weren't reading yesterday. If you live in a state other than North Carolina, please go to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives web sites and find the contact information for your Congressmen and women. Please let me know if you have trouble accessing either site and I will do my best to help you.

Good luck and thank you for taking this step on behalf of so many deserving children.