National Coalition for Literacy

—A Public Policy Update on Adult Education and Literacy, Part IV

By Jackie Taylor

December 13, 2010 Update: Congressman Roe is the sole chair of the House Adult Literacy Caucus. He will be continuing on the Education and Labor Committee and reports that he is happy to continue sponsoring the caucus. His staff have asked NCL for recommendations for a co-chair and we are currently working now to secure a co-chair. We hope to have positive news to report soon.

November 23, 2010 Update: Congressman Dan Maffei formally conceded on Tuesday, November 23 to Republican Ann Marie Buerkle, who won the race in New York’s 25 district by less than 600 votes. Congressman Maffei is the House Adult Literacy Caucus sponsor and co-chair. NCL is working with Maffei’s and Roe’s offices to seek a replacement. More information will be posted soon.

To additional House Adult Literacy Caucus Members were not re-elected: Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Harry Teague (D–NM). All others, with the exception of Dan Maffei, have been re-elected.

November 6, 2010 Update:

House Adult Literacy Caucus sponsor and co-chair, Dan Maffei, is in a tight race still and the race may not be decided until closer to Thanksgiving, NBC News reported on Thursday, due to voting machine issues. Currently, Ann Marie Buerkle holds a slight lead over Maffei by 659 votes. More than 11,000 absentee ballots are still to be counted, most of them from Onandaga County, home to the city of Syracuse (and to ProLiteracy!), which is where the majority of voters live and the only county that Maffei won.

House Adult Literacy Caucus Members, 111th Congress:

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Next steps for adult literacy advocates to be announced, once we know the outcome of Maffei’s race in NY-25.

For a heartening projection of the outcome, see this New York Times Article.

For one analysis on why Buerkle has done well in other counties, see the Syracuse.com article on How the West was won by Ann Marie Buerkle, causing an Election Day tossup in the 25th Congressional District.

Nov. 18 Update! Here’s the latest: Dan Maffei picks up more votes in Syracuse count, narrows Ann Marie Buerkle lead to 303 votes

To monitor the race in NY, you might also see the Washington Post’s live state-by-state results:

In the meantime, post your comments or questions below! We always want to hear from you.

Jackie Taylor
NCL Public Policy Committee Chair
Jackie@jataylor.net

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