WEAC Direct

The recall election: 'Budget veto' a myth

You may have seen news articles this week talking about a supposed budget veto pledge unions have asked of Democratic candidates in the recall election for governor. Any such pledge is a myth, and here's what you need to know about the candidates in the recall election:

Candidates quizzed on commitment to schools, not a 'budget veto'
During the interview, review and debate process for WEAC members' recommendation, the WEAC Political Action Committee and Board of Directors asked candidates and potential candidates about respecting worker rights and how they would protect public education. They were not asked to take a pledge to veto a budget if it didn't have collective bargaining restored.

"Absolutely not," WEAC President Mary Bell says in a recent La Crosse Tribune story. "It's not the approach that any of us would take."

Indeed, Kathleen Vinehout confirmed with the newspaper that unions didn't make any veto pledge request. What you need to know is that candidates were asked about their policies for our state, not about political tricks.

Rallying around a recommendation
The recommendation of Kathleen Falk by member representatives of the WEAC Political Action Committee and the WEAC Board comes after a thorough and democratic review and debate process that included interviews with announced and potential candidates. The uncertain time frame of the recall makes it necessary to announce a recommendation early and rally around the best candidate to recall Scott Walker. We are united in that goal: to reclaim Wisconsin and recall Walker.

Why are members supporting Falk? In addition to what educators had to say during the announcement of WEAC's recommendation (see the column on the right for more), know this: Falk is taking a stand for educators and public schools. As La Crosse Education Association President Ed Ludwig told the La Cross Tribune, "At this point, there was no other candidate that was willing to come forward and be that strong on the issues that we think are important." Click here to read more about the recommendation.

One year ago this week...

On February 11, 2011, our union of educators took the lead in opposing Governor Walker's first attacks on working Wisconsinites. WEAC President Mary Bell delivered a heartfelt speech at a news conference, setting the tone for how our union would respond to an extreme agenda from the new governor.

Members mobilized quickly in UniServ offices across the state - and aligned forces with our union allies. Together we focused our message around the impact this attack would have on Wisconsin families. Our members spoke up along with nurses, firefighters, snowplow drivers and other public employees to articulate this movement from the standpoint of a regular Wisconsinite - the everyday hero. And the last 12 months have resulted in an unprecedented series of events and activities to build a movement that would engage in grassroots organizing to reclaim Wisconsin.

That movement continues through our union's 4 x 10 Plan (watch for more information about the "Family, Friends and Neighbors" effort in the coming weeks) and marking the occasion with events to remember what we've all been through, from the initial outpouring of support to the grassroots organizing around the recall.