Kenosha Education Association

Walker’s Misleading TV Ads

The money is pouring in for Scott Walker.  It’s reported that it has amounted to $4.5 million just for last month and over $12 million in the past year, which is more than he spent in the 2010 election.  We will see more and more of his TV ads where we will have to listen to his outrageous claims of protecting and creating jobs in Wisconsin. He proclaims through his leadership his reforms are working.  His spin machine is spinning out a lot of lies.

For the most part, property taxes have gone up.  Of course, he blames that on local governments after having cut state funds to them.  Kenosha’s property taxes that did go down only went down by tens of dollars while many of those who live in Waukesha saw significant decreases even when home values there have not experienced the same results as Kenosha’s home values.

On the issue of jobs, Walker claims that he has protected union jobs in the state.  We know that this is not true.  Here in our school district alone, we lost 254 teaching positions and 26 ESP positions since last year.  He claims that we’ve added jobs in Wisconsin when in fact we continue to lose jobs.  Our Local economies continue to pay the price for his reforms.

He claims his reforms, after taking almost $1 billion out of funding public education, will produce a budget surplus yet FactCheck.org reports, “The state is not on track to end this fiscal year with a ‘slight surplus’. It is facing a $137 million deficit this fiscal year and a $3.6 billion deficit in the next two-year budget cycle.”  For sure, we know, as a result of his kind of reforms, we have a huge budget deficit here this year and a larger deficit next year. 

So as the TV ads continue to play across your flat screens at home, keep in mind that it is the “big big players” providing Walker the funds to produce the lies coming out of his spin machine.

We will soon have an opportunity to change all of this.  It’s time -- it’s our time.

More than a Million Signatures Collected to Recall Walker!

More than a million Wisconsinites signed recall petitions that were turned into the state by the grassroots group United Wisconsin last week. That's an impressive feat considering our state's stringent procedure for prompting recall elections.

The million-plus signatures are nearly twice that required to prompt a recall election. The Walker recall effort turned in 185 percent of the signatures needed. In comparison, there have been only two successful recalls of governors, 2003 in California and 1921 in North Dakota, with 23 and 32 percent of the electorate signing recall petitions, respectively, in those states. Last week’s total was 46 percent of the Wisconsin electorate, with the number of recall signatures just shy of the votes Walker received in 2010.

In Ohio last year, organizers gathered 32 percent of voters over a three-month period to sign a repeal of their anti-union bill. In the Walker recall, volunteers collected signatures from 46 percent of voters in only two months. This is very impressive!

"We are proud of our members and leaders who volunteered their nights and weekends to help contribute to the success of this grassroots effort," WEAC President Mary Bell said.  "It's been amazing to witness the energy and excitement coming from many individuals who have never been politically active before but who want to take action to help reclaim Wisconsin."

In addition to the Walker recall petitions, organizers of separate campaigns exceeded the required signatures to prompt recall elections of Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators: Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls, Pam Galloway of Wausau, Van Wanggaard of Racine, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

However, our work is just starting.  Even while the celebrations were occurring last week, we were discussing the next steps in the war to reclaim our state.  What can you do?  Communication is vital: every member needs to stay in touch with their Association Representative(s), the ARs need to stay in touch with the KEA, and, of course, every building needs to have ARs.  If your building doesn’t have an AR, this is the time to ask around and find one or two people who are willing to serve.  Then contact the KEA, and we will help you hold an election in your building.

Final Recall Numbers: 

Gov. Walker - 1MILLION = 185%

Lt. Gov. Kleefisch - 845 =156%

Sen. Moulton - 21K = 140% 

Sen. Galloway - 21K = 134%

Sen. Wanggaard - 24k = 156%

Sen. Fitzgerald – 20.6k = 125% 

Source: http://www.unitedwisconsin.com/

THE KEA HAS A NEW WEBSITE AT THE SAME ADDRESS

Message from: Kathy Lusiak and Adam Pavelchik, KEA Co-Webmasters

The Kenosha Education Association has a new website: http://www.keanow.com/.  The “Member’s Only” section of the webpage is open to all regular KEA members but requires members to register.  Your e-mail address will be your user name, and you will choose your own password.

Members will receive an email once your registration has been received and approved.  All requests have to be approved and added manually, this takes some time. If you forget your password, you can click on forgot my password, you will receive the following message: Please enter the email address for your account. A verification code will be sent to you. Once you have received the verification code, you will be able to choose a new password for your account.

The website is updated weekly unless events necessitate otherwise.  The GLUE is available on the website and is not password protected.  However, it is important to register as soon as possible so that you are able to receive sensitive information in a timely manner.

KEA also has a Facebook page!  Be sure to go to Kenosha Education Association on Facebook and be “friended!”  The Kenosha Education Association is making every effort to hear from YOU, our members.  Please share this information with your colleagues so that we can all stay in touch.  Our political and professional world is rapidly changing, and communication among our members and with your union is essential so that we can influence this change!

We hope to hear from you soon.

Important Notices

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Important General Membership Meeting

 Friday, January 27, 2012

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

KEA building, 5610 – 55^th St., Kenosha

KEPAC General Membership Meeting 

 Thursday, February 9, 4:00 p.m., at the KEA

 *KEPAC Committee Recommendations for Elections

National ESP Conference

March 9-11, 2012- Memphis, TN

The NEA ESP Conference is a great opportunity for the ESP members to develop new skills and learn about important issues.

If you are interested in attending and would like to request funding, please contact the KEA immediately.  Please include a brief biography of the various union activities that you have been involved in.  Priority will be given to those who have NOT attended the NEA ESP Conference in previous years.  Hurry -- the deadline is January 27^th