November 22,2005
Dear MSCA Faculty and Librarians:
On Monday afternoon, Jean Stonehouse, MSCA chapter president at Bridgewater State College, invited me to attend a meeting held at her campus with BRI President Mohler-Faria and Representative David Flynn (D-Bridgewater) to discuss the status of the contract funding.
Representative Flynn, a member of the House majority leadership, told those present that the funding for our contract will be enacted either during an informal legislative session held between now and January 1st, or as the first order of business during the resumption of the formal legislative session in January.
He explained that, during the informal session, any member of either legislative house can object to any bill's consideration. He said that enactment of our contract funding during the informal session is highly likely but cannot be guaranteed for this reason.
However, he assured those present that, should enactment not occur during the informal session, the first order of business in January would be a supplemental budget bill that would contain our contract funding, along with other contracts submitted by the governor's office in October. In response to my question, Representative Flynn stated that the contract funding bill will carry over to January with no need to resubmit it, because the formal session is merely in recess, not in adjournment.
Rep. Flynn expressed his opinion that the governor will not veto our contract funding, but stated that, should the governor do this, the Legislature will act within 24 hours to override the veto.
I trust that this report provides the latest and most up-to-date information on the status of our contract funding. I thank Chapter President Stonehouse for inviting me to the meeting at Bridgewater, and I thank Representative Flynn for his support of our work on behalf of the students of the state colleges.
My husband and I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Patricia V. Markunas, MSCA President
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