Education Truth Squad' Scours State Capitol

The Republican state budget plan would "rip apart" public education in Wisconsin, Governor Doyle tells several hundred WEAC members as they prepare to lobby legislators at the Capitol. "Now, it's up to us," added WEAC President Stan Johnson (right).

Members met in groups and as individuals with dozens of legislators and aides. They also dropped off postcards and other materials spelling out the harm that would be caused by the budget that has been presented to the State Senate by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee.

Members were polite but sometimes stern with legislators.

They spread out to legislative offices after a morning meeting at the Monona Terrace Convention Center in which they heard from Governor Doyle, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, WEAC President Stan Johnson, WEAC Executive Director Michael A. Butera, and others.

"You are the Truth Squad," said John Stocks, WEAC's assistant executive director for public affairs, who described the Joint Finance Committee's budget plan as "the most serious and most dangerous" since the 1993 budget that implemented school district revenue controls and the Qualified Economic Offer law.

Johnson said the Joint Finance Committee "undid" all the good policy that Doyle had presented in his budget proposal. "And now it's up to us, along with Governor Doyle, to make it right again," Johnson said.

Doyle said the next few weeks are critical in determining whether the state will adopt a fair and honest budget.

Governor Doyle

"Twelve members of Joint Finance voted for this budget of gimmicks and misplaced priorities. I hope that the rest of the Legislature will not join them in jumping off this cliff," he said. "I need your help in making our case. In the coming days and weeks, we must hold this Legislature accountable for our kids, and accountable for Wisconsin's future."

Doyle said the worst part about the budget is what it does to education: It rolls back the state's commitment to the SAGE class-size reduction program, cuts more than $400 million in school spending, and decimates the 4-year-old kindergarten program, "leaving nearly 17,000 4-year-old children statewide out in the cold."

"We cannot afford a budget that shuts down 4-year-old kindergarten," Doyle said. "The early years are the most important in a child's life, but Republicans have put them first on the chopping block. It's shortsighted, and it is putting our kids at a terrible disadvantage."

Doyle said the Republicans would not even hold a hearing on his proposal to repeal the Qualified Economic Offer law.

"The QEO isn't working," Doyle said. "It treats teachers differently from every other group of public employees. Under the QEO, our teacher salaries have fallen off dramatically compared to other states. If we want a quality education for our kids, then it starts with making an investment in good teachers.

"But Republicans have made you the enemy, and handicapped our ability to pay you the salaries you deserve. It is not only a disservice to our educators, it is a disservice to our kids."

Doyle said the Joint Finance plan would "rip apart" public education in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has great schools, and the Republicans would reduce them to "mediocre and below average," Doyle said. "That is the direction they are taking us. I'm not going to let that happen."

Burmaster applauded WEAC members for taking the time to come to Madison to fight for schools and children.

Elizabeth Burmaster

"This is the kind of spirit and energy that will indeed lead us in winning this fight," she said. "It has been hard work, and now we have to go the final distance."

Burmaster said good teaching is an art form, and respect for it must become a renewed tradition in Wisconsin.

"We must regain the tradition that regards teaching as the noblest of professions," she said, calling the Joint Finance budget "an attack on quality public education."

"Today, you can make your voices heard," she said.

Johnson told members that legislators will listen to them.

"You are the people in the schools every day. You create classrooms that work for our children. You are the reason Wisconsin has the best education system in the nation. You are the authority on public education, and your voice counts in the Capitol."

Johnson said education suffered some major setbacks in the Joint Finance Committee, but added:

"Your hard work and dedication today will pay off in a few weeks ... when we have a budget that keeps our schools great and treats our profession with the respect we deserve."

Stocks said Republicans nationwide are attempting - through tax cuts and budget cuts - to drain public services, including schools, of financial resources.

"We are here because we have had enough," Stocks said.

Republican legislative leaders claim their budget is good for education, but that's absolutely not true, Stocks said.

"Tell them you're not going to accept the big lie. You know what they are doing," he said.

Resource page on 2003-05 state budget

Posted June 10, 2003