by Fred Martin
In case anyone was wondering, the majority of Americans seem to care about their children's education. Even when we hear again and again the same lines about fiscal responsibility, spending and budget crunches, we also know that there are good choices and bad choices to be made. Those that make bad choices, choices that hurt our children's education for years to come, those that sacrifice education for lower taxes or bigger business, are now paying a price by way of public opinion.
In case anyone was wondering, the majority of Americans seem to care about their children's education. Even when we hear again and again the same lines about fiscal responsibility, spending and budget crunches, we also know that there are good choices and bad choices to be made. Those that make bad choices, choices that hurt our children's education for years to come, those that sacrifice education for lower taxes or bigger business, are now paying a price by way of public opinion.
GOP lawmaker Daniel Boman of Sulligent switches parties
Published: Thursday, May 26, 2011
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A Republican lawmaker has switched to the Democratic Party expressing concern that the GOP is pushing an agenda that hurts teachers.
Rep. Daniel Boman of Sulligent announced he was changing parties at a hastily called news conference in a committee room as the House continued to meet in the House Chamber.
House Minority Leader Craig Ford of Gadsden and Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Mark Kennedy stood beside the 36-year-old Boman. He is a lawyer serving his first term in the House.
Boman said he felt Republicans had taken actions this session that he felt hurt school teachers. Boman represents Lamar, Fayette and parts of Tuscaloosa counties.
Boman was one of 10 House Republicans who voted Wednesday against a GOP-backed bill to streamline the process for firing experienced teachers.
Florida's governor now has the lowest approval rating in the nation because of is budgetary decisions that punish schools and reward large corporations.
Rick Scott has the lowest approval rating of any governor out of six states polled by Quinnipiac.In Wisconsin, politicians who supported Governor Scott Walker's budget bill that set out to end collective bargaining, are now facing recall elections that could change the balance of power in that state.
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
The latest Quinnipiac University poll has confirmed it: Florida’s Rick Scott is the most despised governor in the country.
Congratulations, Guv. Quite an honor.
Turns out that Esther, his mom, was indeed right. Gov. Scott is quite the overachiever. All it took was cutting about 9,000 state jobs. The decimation of Florida’s public education system. The gutting of hospitals, higher education and environmental protections. And single-handedly shutting down a decade-long effort to create a high-speed rail system from Orlando to Tampa, which would have created 24,000 jobs.
All in less than six months...
29 percent also happen to be the ... number who believe the budget is fair to them. More than half — 54 percent — believe the budget is unfair to people like them.
The numbers are even lower when people are asked whether the budget he signed Thursday will create jobs. Only 26 percent believe it will. Scott ran on the promise he would create jobs for Floridians. But after the thousands of job cuts, his “Let’s Get To Work” campaign slogan has turned into a taunt.
In Wisconsin, target of recall stands by stance on union bill
Mr. Hopper finds himself in the crosshairs after backing the governor’s “budget-repair bill,” which sought to close a $3.6 billion state deficit. The most contentious parts of the bill stripped teachers and other public-sector union members of their right to collective bargaining on issues other than wages and required most public employees to contribute more to their health care and pension plans.
Two other Republican candidates - Dan Kapanke of La Crosse and Luther Olsen of Ripon-also face certified recall campaigns. Assuming final state approval is granted, the three Republicans will face challengers July 12.
The recall drives have the potential to transform the balance of power in Madison. Republicans hold a 19-14 edge in the state Senate, meaning that three successful recalls would give the Democrats control of the state’s upper chamber.
If anyone plans on a Presidential run next year or simply wants to be reelected, maybe they should take a lesson from those that are walking the same path they're on. People care about education, and they know that it doesn't have to be sacrificed at the altar of feigned fiscal responsibility. We, the public, know what's going on. And we're not as dumb as you think we are.
The Star Telegram reported that voting teachers will not forget the choices of Texas legislators this year. What they do about it is a whole other issue, however. The last state election showed one of the lowest voter turnouts ever. The only way to solve this crisis in education is by starting with the power of your vote.
Teacher groups say Texas GOP will pay price in 2012 for budget cuts | Texas Legislature ...
Teacher groups say Texas GOP will pay price in 2012 for budget cuts | Texas Legislature ...
AUSTIN -- Education is shaping up to be a dominant issue in the 2012 legislative elections as teachers and their allies begin seeking political retaliation for deep reductions in school financing and other measures perceived as unfriendly to educators.
"Cuts in education are going to be one of the biggest issues to be considered in the next election cycle," said Lonnie Hollingsworth, director of governmental relations for the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
His group will examine voting records and plan strategy to "get some teacher-friendly folks" elected, he said.
House members are scheduled to vote today on a so-called nontax-revenue measure and a school package that would implement $4 billion in reduced state payments to school districts over the next two years...
Political payback for the reduction in state education funding has been a recurring theme in protests by parents and educators, including one that drew thousands to a rally in March outside the Capitol.
At a rally Saturday, about 200 demonstrators chanted, "We watch, we vote!"
Nevertheless, as the Texas budget goes through the House and Senate with little bipartisan support, a program called "No Teacher Left Behind" had this to say:
“A Fiscal Fiasco” and Warning for the Future
It’s not a rainy day anymore. Folks, we’ve been hit with a TSUNAMI, and legislators still failed to use common sense and alleviate the budget shortfall to any degree.
“Texans are going to ask members next year why they can’t afford nursing home care or why their children can’t get a Texas grant to attend college”
“The cuts will result in tens of thousands of public school workers losing their jobs and prevent nearly 43,000 fewer poor students receiving financial aid for college”...
Thank you, Gov. Rick Perry and the super-majority of the Texas Legislature for relentlessly destroying the jobs of young, promising educators and the futures of students. Please take this horrible slap in the face for public education, as a warning and vote for those that actually value our generation's future in upcoming elections.
I urge you to vote for educated legislators that do not call for uneducated and unbelievably irrational policies in the future to save education. Please remember when slashing budgets: education should be last on the list because it’s first for the future.
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