Oregon's Senior Senator

Ron Wyden is a great guy. He consistently votes in favor of legislation that strengthens public education and advocates for a national health care system that would insure everyone. He also listens to his constituents.

When he was first elected he promised to have an open meeting in every county in Oregon at least once a year and he has honored that promise with town hall meetings across the state. Happily today was Malheur and Baker Counties' day to shine!

Senator Wyden attended town hall meetings in Ontario and Baker City as well as an evening potluck with the Baker County Democrats. The only rules for his town hall meetings are 1) each person may ask one question and must wait to ask a second question until everyone else has had a chance to ask a question, 2) town hall meetings are for topics of concern for everyone, not for party rhetoric, and 3) even if a listener disagrees with his/her neighbor assault is heavily discouraged.

Being an education advocate and a political enthusiast I make it my business to attend these town hall meetings whenever I am able and to ask an education question if possible. Today I attended both events and was able to ask two questions.

First, I asked for his thoughts about restructuring ESEA in a way that has accountability for schools but doesn't put educators in a stranglehold, unable to teach anything but the test. Senator Wyden has worked with our State Superintendent Susan Castillo and advocates the model that she suggests. They helped a number of schools last year who had met AYP in all but one or two areas and only then missed it in those areas by a slight margin. Even though students showed great gains these schools were going to be designated as failing. He sees the need to retool ESEA and would be amenable to NEA's suggestions.

Second I asked when full funding for IDEA could be expected. Currently schools are funded at a mere 17% and the federal government is supposed to fund it at 40%. Who fills the gap? Local schools. Which budget funds this? The general fund. Senator Wyden responded that fully funding IDEA is expensive and worth every penny. And we can't expect it to happen until we have a major shift in foreign policy (e.g. we are out of Iraq). While his answer isn't the most pleasant it has the virtue of being realistic. He sees the need for fully funding IDEA, something that not everyone else does.

I'm grateful to have a hard working, progressive senator like Ron Wyden advocating for us. I am also hopeful that Steve Novick can join him soon!