Standing-room only at basic ed funding hearing

At last night's public hearing on HB 1410 (you know, that basic ed funding bill that will enact the most sweeping changes in our K-12 system in nearly 30 years), 120 people packed the hearing room to testify, with 13 in opposition.

It was an amazing sight. Even more amazing were the passionate pleas from parents, teachers and others who clearly want to see the Legislature do right by our state's kids.

You can check out the full hearing for yourself at tvw.org, but here is a particularly poignant clip of Rep. Kathy Haigh, who chairs the committee, inviting Rep. Pat Sullivan to speak about the bill.

Sullivan is one of those legislators that doesn't usually like being in the limelight. But you wouldn't know it by listening to his candid, heartfelt words here.