Sen. Bailey receives perfect score on education voting record
AUGUSTA — Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, earned a 100 percent score from the Maine Education Association for her voting record on legislation to support students, teachers and families. Sen. Bailey is one of 19 state senators who earned a perfect score from MEA for their 2022 voting record.
“As a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, my colleagues and I worked hard to make smart investments in Maine’s future, namely Maine’s schools, teachers and students,” said Sen. Bailey. “The pressure and strain of the pandemic pushed our education system to the brink, so I knew that we had to offer real relief and support for our heroic educators inside the classroom.”
This year, Sen. Bailey voted to continue funding free, universal school meals, fully fund education at 55 percent, invest in career and technical education and provide two years of free community college for Maine high school graduates from the graduating classes of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. In addition, she supported the creation of an Education Rainy Day Fund to ensure the state is able to continue funding K-12 public education at the 55 percent threshold. Last year marked the first time in the state’s history that the Legislature met that threshold, which was mandated by Maine voters at the ballot box in 2004. This fund will ensure the Legislature fulfills its obligation and will alleviate the burden that often falls on property taxpayers.
Sen. Bailey also voted in favor of bills to expand family and medical leave protections for hourly school employees and ensure that teachers can take time off for COVID-related illness even if they don’t have accrued leave.
MEA represents 24,000 Maine teachers and promotes policies and investments that ensure that educators’ voices, values and priorities are heard and respected both in the workplace and at the State House.
Sen. Bailey remains committed to fighting for Maine students, teachers and school staff in the Legislature.
The full 2022 MEA Legislative Scorecard can be found here.
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