Can anyone post the text of this amendment? I'm confident that the letter writer is being misleading.

I share your confidence, Michael.
This is a specious Barbara L'Italien supporter's attack based on, what, schools usurping parental rights?

Does L'Italien want to separate and divorce students from all parental rights?
Sounds like she wants the government to raise kids.

Amendment #577 to H.4100

An amendment relative to state fiscal priorities

Mr. Lyons of Andover moves to amend the bill in section 2, in item 4590-0250, by striking out the figures " $11,132,301" and inserting in place thereof the figures "$0".

Do parents have any school system child health parental rights regarding this bill?

Here's item 4590-0250
Item 4590-0250 below - This doesn't sound anything like eliminating school nurses.

4590-0250 For school health services and school-based health centers in public and non-public schools; provided, that services shall include, but not be limited to: (a) strengthening the infrastructure of school health services in the areas of personnel and policy development, programming and interdisciplinary collaboration; (b) developing linkages between school health services programs and community health providers; (c) incorporating health education programs, including tobacco prevention and cessation activities in school curricula and in the provision of school based health services; and (d) incorporating obesity prevention programs, including nutrition and wellness programs, in school curricula to address the nutrition and lifestyle habits needed for healthy development; provided further, that the services shall meet standards and eligibility guidelines established by the department in consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that funds shall be expended for school nurses and school-based health center programs; and provided further, that funds may be expended to address the recommendations of the permanent commission on gay and lesbian youth, established in section 67 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, for the reduction of health disparities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth ..$11,332,301

This amendment would in fact have a negative impact on existing public school based nursing services. Rita Casper, the District Coordinator for Nursing Serves in Andover, confirmed it in a letter she wrote in May: http://www.andovertownsman.com/opinion/x1856222444/Letter-State-amendment-would-harm-Andover-school-nursing. I wish Rep Lyons would explain publicly the reason and hoped for end result of this amendment which does CUT Nursing services. The voters of the 18th district deserve to know why.

Agreed!

And on a positive note, if Andover really thought they need an additional school nurse, they should pay for it themselves.

Is that what Rep Lyons thinks? But it still does not answer the question about why he wants to eliminate this funding.

Most of us are fighting an awful economy trying to keep more of what we earn, and someone's worrying about this small ball stuff.

Agree the economy has a long way to go. But not sure what your point is, Are we bloggers making too much of this small ball stuff, or Rep Lyons?

Listen, I'm a Democrat, I wouldn't support Rep. Lyons on principle. But, I can sincerely admire folks like Bruce Tarr (State Senator from Gloucester) who have a different worldview, fight for what they can, and work with others to make things work better. Jim Lyons is just going to yell, scream, and stomp his feet about the "taxpayers" without actually accomplishing anything. All his radical social policies need to be out in the open and his ineffectiveness highlighted.

Lyons fights for the district.
Government accountability, taxpayers keep more of their hard earned money, creating an economic environment conducive to private sector jobs creation, and local aid back to the towns.

L'Italien is for raising taxes in Depressionesque times and accepting a political crony patronage 100K job she was unqualified for milking the public sector getting payback for being a good 'go along to get along' foot soldier.

She was the architect of the meals and alcohol tax being slipped via jacket in a private conference committee without a House vote into the budget to be passed. When asked about her role she never came clean saying she slipped it in herself as Assistant Ways and Means Chairman. Instead, she pleaded she had no choice in that she had to vote for the budget cause others depend on government.

it blew up in her face when Lyons confronted her on it in their Tribune Debate in 2010.

All we need to know about L'Italien is she financially hurt her constituents raising their sales, meals, and alcohol taxes during abysmal economic times in 2009 while financially helping herself to the public trough getting a 100K government job in Steve Grossman's office.

Those are the issues that matter.