Political Developments
March 31, 2008
Welcome to the RVEP PAC-Legislative Committee blogspot! This blog is available to RVEP members for updates of political and legislative matters pertaining to our locals and districts. We hope that this material helps you make informed decisions and assists members in lobbying state and local legislators for the benefit of our students,their families and our membership needs.
TAKE ACTION: Vote on Tuesday, April 1, (no foolin’!) All RVEP locals will be done with Spring Break, so please vote.
Supreme Court Election, Tuesday, April 1: WEAC has followed its democratic process and recommended Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler. Justice Butler has been a strong supporter of public schools and employees. Here is a portion of WEAC-PAC’s recommendation report, (found at WEAC.org/members:
Members recommend Butler for Wisconsin Supreme Court In statewide balloting, WEAC members have overwhelmingly voted to recommend Justice Louis Butler for State Supreme Court. Butler, who was appointed by Governor Doyle to fill a vacancy, has been a State Supreme Court justice since 2004. Butler faces Burnett County Circuit Judge Michael Gableman in the April 1 election. In recommending Butler for Supreme Court, the PAC Committee noted that since being appointed to the high court by Doyle in 2004, Butler has played a leadership role in building collegiality on the court, thereby providing well-reasoned decisions.?It also noted: Butler’s record is one of consistently supporting the fair treatment of employees and protecting the well-being of children. Butler understands and appreciates the work being done by school employees in Wisconsin. He sees education as the key to children’s future success. Coming from modest roots, Butler attended Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin Law School. He previously worked as a Circuit Court judge, municipal judge and assistant public defender. Butler has been key in building collegiality on the Supreme Court, thereby producing well-reasoned decisions. “We strongly urge every WEAC member to vote in the Supreme Court race,” said WEAC President Mary Bell. “Supreme Court decisions can have profound impacts on the daily lives of educators and on the quality of education that children receive in Wisconsin. It is important that our high court be composed of justices who appreciate the critical importance of public education to our state and understand that great schools benefit everyone.” For more information about Justice Butler and his campaign: www.louisbutler.com; http://www.wicourts.gov/about/judges/supreme/butler.htm TAKE LOCAL ACTION: Recommendations for local elections on April 1st:
Beloit Therus Collins Michael Ramsdail
Janesville Kevin Murray Peggy Sheridan
Milton John Cruzan Fred Hookham
Turner Richard Himmelmann Rodney Jordan David Patterson
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: --A tax deduction for out-of-pocket costs has been passed through both the State Senate SB-395 and Assembly AB-647. Once a negotiated version is created between houses and signed by the governor,educators could deduct up to $250 for purchases made by teachers that are used in their classrooms. For more information on passed bills by the State Senate and the Assembly, checkout” http://www.weac.org/Capitol/2007-08/march08/roundup.htm --Healthy Wisconsin, a plan the promote quality health care for all Wisconsin residents, has been reintroduced into the State Senate after being removed from the last budget. More details at http://www.weac.org/Capitol/200708/march08/HealthyWisconsin.htm
--Governor Doyle has released a budget repair plan. The Republican controlled Assembly passed their own version. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=726615 http://www.weac.org/Capitol/2007-08/march08/budget.htm
--Virtual Schools are being addressed: http://www.weac.org/Capitol/2007-08/march08/virtual.htm If you have suggestions or questions that can be answered on this Webpage, please contact Greg Devine (4devines@charter.net )or Ted Lewis (lewist@weac.org).
LOUIS BUTLER FOR SUPREME COURT
March 20, 2008
WEAC has endorsed Lewis Butler for Supreme Court. He has a record of supporting education, children and fair treament of employees. Remmeber to vote Tuesday, April 1. We need to keep a Supreme Court Justice who will stand up for our schools and communities.
