CTA says no to recall, yes to Bustamonte

[LWolf]

I'm posting the whole news release because I don't have a site; it was emailed to me at work:

CTA President Kerr Says Union Will Involve its 335,000 Members

BURLINGAME – While remaining strongly opposed to the recall, the Board of Directors of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association voted this afternoon to endorse Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante as a successor if Gov. Davis is recalled.

CTA is the largest professional employee organization in the state. The union will mobilize its members to vote no on the recall and yes on Bustamante, said President Barbara E. Kerr.

“CTA remains strongly opposed to the Oct. 7 recall of a democratically elected governor,” Kerr said. “But if the recall passes, teachers want to know which candidate has the best plan to protect public education. We know that Lt. Gov. Bustamante has a long history of supporting students, teachers and public schools. He will fight to provide our schools with the resources they need.”

The $70 million it will cost for this special election orchestrated by extremists is money that could be spent on reducing class sizes, hiring teachers or buying textbooks for students, Kerr said.

There are also two propositions on the Oct. 7 ballot. CTA opposes Proposition 54, Kerr said. “By banning the collection of all data based on race or ethnicity, Prop. 54 hinders the state’s efforts to make sure all students and schools get the resources they deserve to succeed, and makes it harder to hold schools accountable for closing the achievement gap.”

The CTA Board voted today to oppose Proposition 53, which would set aside general fund revenues for state infrastructure projects, but specifically prohibits that any of this money be used to build or renovate schools or community colleges.

“Prop. 53 takes billions of dollars out of the state general fund at a time when California is cutting funds for our schools, raising college tuition fees and cutting health care programs,” Kerr said. “It gives politicians a blank check to spend money on pet projects with no accountability to taxpayers.”

A panel of 7 board members invited Bill Simon, Bustamante, Peter Camejo, Arianna Huffington, Peter Ueberroth and Schwarzenegger to an interview, either in person or on the phone, before the decision was reached. I don't know who besides Arnold showed up to talk to them.

This notice was dated Thursday, August 21st, but I just picked it up today; I was on vacation last week.

[Cha]

1. Yea! For CTA! Just the way I would do it!

:kick:

[Clete]

2. Great news.

Thanks for posting.

[meti57b]

3. I had read that ahh-nuld did one of those telephone interviews with them.

I don't think he actually showed up.

[LWolf]

4. My source says a phone interview, as well.

They sent out a longer piece about Arnold's discussion, but picked Bustamonte in the end.