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Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law Thursday (July 24, 2003) a state budget
that largely protects Wisconsin's great schools from funding cuts.
"Gov. Doyle vetoed many anti-public education provisions in the
budget adopted by the Legislature," Johnson said. "In the
face of a record state deficit, many critical education and public employee
programs were spared, but public schools will suffer under this budget."
Gov. Doyle vetoed provisions that would have gutted the SAGE class-size
reduction and 4-year-old kindergarten programs. He also vetoed a plan
to eliminate public employee rights to bargain their health care, a
50% increase in the fee for teaching licenses, and expansion of Milwaukee's
unaccountable private school voucher program.
"The budget still reduces funding for public education,"
Johnson said. "We will work with the governor and Legislature to
ensure the state continues its commitment to great schools, classrooms
that work, and great teachers and staff during these difficult fiscal
times."
Johnson said WEAC will also continue to work toward repeal the Qualified
Economic Offer (QEO) law, which discriminates against teachers by capping
their salaries. Republican leaders on the Joint Finance Committee removed
Gov. Doyle's provision to repeal of the QEO law from the budget this
spring.
"Led by Assembly Speaker John Gard, Republicans refused to negotiate
any changes to the law, which amounts to an unfair salary cap imposed
on teachers," Johnson said. "They refused to even consider
other improvements to the bargaining law, claiming the issue was policy
and didn't belong in the state budget. At the same time they added many
policy items to the budget, including expanding the Milwaukee voucher
program."
Posted July 24, 2003