New coalition fights TABOR

A coalition named THINK - or TABOR Hurts Investments in Kids - has formed to fight the constitutional amendment to limit taxes and spending.

THINK is composed of people and organizations opposing TABOR because the amendment would harm children and education.

Participating organizations include WEAC. The Wisconsin Coalition on Children and Families is spearheading the effort.

"THINK has its priorities straight - it's focusing on TABOR's impact on children," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "Gimmicks like TABOR and property tax freezes harm children and their education. It's time for Wisconsin residents to speak up and stop these bad ideas from becoming reality."

Johnson said timing is critical: Legislators announced this week that they plan to introduce their latest version of TABOR on April 15.

"The public does not want a property tax freeze or TABOR," Johnson said. "Legislators should get serious about improving the lives of residents and not waste time making empty promises."

WEAC members speak for great schools

The stage is set for the next act in the battle over the state budget and taxes.

The Legislature earlier this month failed to override Governor Jim Doyle's veto of a so-called property tax "freeze" bill rushed through the Legislature this winter.

Doyle vetoed the bill hours after legislative leaders forwarded it to him.

The governor had planned to veto the property tax scheme earlier, but Republican legislative leaders chose to withhold the bill at the last minute. They finally sent the bill to him on March 11, and he vetoed it immediately, saying it failed to protect public schools and local governments.

Legislators attempted to override the veto on March 16, but failed to get enough votes.

WEAC President Stan Johnson said the plan would have inflicted immediate and massive harm on Wisconsin's great schools and staff.

"It represents reckless fiscal policy that would seriously impair school district and local government operations and damage the ability of technical colleges to train the workforce of the future," he said. "Governor Doyle has introduced a budget that offers a solid, balanced plan to use taxpayer resources wisely, and offers realistic solutions, not gimmicks. The governor's plan will create classrooms that work for children, help maintain quality staff in schools and benefit everyone throughout Wisconsin by maintaining great schools providing real property tax relief for residents."

June Anderson named to Educational Communications Board

Oshkosh Education Association member June Anderson has been appointed to the 16-member Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Her appointment by Governor Doyle was confirmed by the State Senate earlier this month.

The ECB is a state agency that ensures that public radio and television programs and services are made available throughout Wisconsin, and that these programs and services reflect and respond to the educational and cultural needs of the state's residents.

The ECB plans, develops, constructs and operates statewide public radio, public television and educational telecommunication systems. Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television are services of the ECB and the University of Wisconsin-Extension