New Legislature convenes today

The 2005-2007 legislative session officially began today with legislators taking their oaths of office.

Floor sessions get under way later this month with a host of major issues confronting the state, including a $1.6 billion budget deficit. Gov. Jim Doyle will deliver his State of the State address on January 12, and he will introduce the budget in February.

"WEAC members face a very difficult two years," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "Some legislative leaders have set an extremist anti-education agenda , and we will need the participation of members throughout the state to fight it."

Johnson asked members to mark their calendars for a January 14 WEAC Cyberlobby campaign.

"We will ask members to contact their legislators about the Qualified Economic Offer law, revenue controls, the proposed property tax freeze and the TABOR constitutional amendment," he said. "The Great Schools Statewide Action Plan calls for a January 14 all-member Cyberlobby. Members should watch for communications with more details later this week."

Public opposition to tax freeze, TABOR increases

Even though proponents of a property tax freeze and constitutional amendment to limit local spending claim they have public support, the news media have been very critical of the proposals.

Newspapers throughout the state have run editorials attacking the plans over the last few months.

Most recently, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the state's largest and most influential newspaper, editorialized against a proposal to use the Consumer Price Index to set local spending limits under a TABOR constitutional amendment.

The editorial - titled "TABOR flawed from start" - said the premise of the plan is flawed. It noted that "while Wisconsin property taxes are relatively high, state residents pay relatively low fees on such items as tuition and auto registration. Moreover, taxes have already been growing slower than personal income, which had been the standard for spending limitations furthered as part of TABOR last year."

WERC rules in favor of WEAC members

Recent rulings by the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission are a major victory for WEAC members and their bargaining rights.

The WERC late last month unanimously ruled in favor of WEAC in three cases involving the Qualified Economic Offer law and its effect on salaries and benefits.

"The issues are complex but boil down to the question of preserving the salary schedule, the right to move through the schedule and the absolute right to offset fringe benefit reductions with salary increases," WEAC Staff Counsel Tony Sheehan said. "The WERC agreed that teachers have the right to move through the schedule even when the district has imposed a QEO. The commission said districts cannot choose what to include in a QEO."