May 16 , 2007

Johnson looks forward to an elevated debate

On the first day of Joint Finance Committee negotiations over the K-12 budget the Assembly Republicans show how out of step they are.

With virtually everyone in Wisconsin calling for increased support for great schools and a new school funding formula, the Assembly Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee went out of their way on the first day of deliberations over the state’s K-12 education budget to show that they do not care what most people want.

Assembly Republicans on the committee floated proposals to reduce the per-pupil revenue caps adjustment allowance to $100 per student, a $290 million cut from Governor Doyle’s proposed budget. The Republican cuts would negatively impact every school district in Wisconsin. They also proposed cutting Governor Doyle’s proposals for class-size reduction, 4-year-old kindergarten, and school breakfast programs for low- income children. These proposals all failed to pass the committee.

The Assembly Republicans also put forward proposals to limit school funding it does not deem “classroom related,” and to tie teachers’ pay to student test scores. These proposals, which failed to pass the whole committee, are favorites of anti-public education political interest groups throughout the nation.

“This is a time for legislators to bring their best ideas to the table and have a de-politicized discussion about what is best for our state’s future,” WEAC President Stan Johnson said. “But some members of the Joint Finance Committee have shown that they are not here to take part in that kind of discussion. Instead, they are using the time and the spotlight to reach out to narrow special interests to score political points.”

Johnson urged the members of the Joint Finance Committee to work together in good faith and in the best interests of the state’s future.

“I hope the first day is not indicative of how the rest of the negotiations will go,” Johnson said. “Great schools benefit everyone, and all of our legislators need to take this budget seriously.”