Congressman David Obey's proposal to take $800 million from RTTT, charter school expansion, and teacher performance pay programs to help save 140,000 teacher jobs passed the House of Representatives last night by a vote of 239-182. 

Thanks to everyone who stepped up yesterday and called, wrote and e-mailed your congresspeople!

This is the first serious legislative challenge to Arne Duncan and his policies, and may be an indication of what the ESEA fight ahead might look like.

It's not over yet, though. The bill must go to the Senate, which will have to reconcile the House bill with their own version of a larger appropriations bill.

And President Obama has threatened to veto it.

Thirteen Senators, including our own Dick Durbin, have written a letter to Senate Appropriations chair Daniel Inouye, urging him not to fund the teacher jobs bill by derailing the "bold education reform efforts" in RTTT and others of Fed Ed Head Duncan's pet programs.   

The Senate is on break until July 12. This would be a great time to contact Sen. Durbin and let him know what you think of Duncan's "bold reform efforts." 

Calls/letters/e-mail to Sen. Burris and Sen. Inouye would also be a good idea. 

I'll post my own letter to the three Senators and to President Obama tomorrow.