WEA: Way Too Polite

As reported in the P-I, in a recent speech before the WEA in Spokane, Gov. Gregoire informed union members that everyone is in pain:

Gov. Chris Gregoire told the state's largest teachers union Thursday night that everyone in Washington is being hurt by the national recession that blasted a big hole in the state budget.

Gregoire offered verbal support for teachers, but little else during a speech before the Washington Education Association's annual convention. The speech came as thousands of teachers across the state are receiving layoff notices for the next school year.

"The fact of the matter is, everyone has felt the pain," Gregoire said. "It is devastating."

Gregoire apparently didn't feel the pain enough herself to do anything about the budget. She opposed any form of tax increases, even on high income earners, and after signaling that she would support expanding the bond limits, she changed her mind and opposed Rep. Dunshee's proposal that would have raised $3 billion in school construction.

Gregoire and her fellow Democrats, in the end, enacted an all-cuts budget that will protect the wealth of the privileged and balance the state coffers on the backs of the poor. Those of us who teach academic support classes that help struggling students--most of whom come from poor families--understand this as much as anyone. The truth is that Gregoire and the Democrats in the legislature constitute a political elite that is insulated from the consequences of their actions.

And how does the WEA respond to Gregoire's excuses?

WEA President Mary Lindquist, in introducing Gregoire, noted the union understands these are difficult economic times. But the union hated the budget that came out of the Legislature, she said.

"It will take us years to climb out of the hole this economic recession created for public education," Lindquist said.

Lindquist noted that the relationship between the Democratic governor and the WEA has been "challenged at times," and reminded Gregoire that the union was a "powerful political force."

"We recognize the only path to resolving the chronic underfunding of education requires us to continue to work together," Lindquist said.

Gregoire said she was at a loss to make teachers feel better in the present economic climate.

"You deserve my thanks and the thanks of six million people," she said.

The governor got a polite response from delegates.

Polite response? The governor sells out teachers and public education to protect the wealth of the privileged, and she gets a "polite response"? WEA representatives should have booed and hissed her, and Ms. Lindquist should have leveled hard words at the governor. In case anyone hasn't noticed, being nice hasn't worked.