Politics - Parties, Candidates
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties - covering the U.S. political arena including state and national political parties.
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Scott Walker's Education Cuts Still Hurt As Much As Ever
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 15 -- The Wisconsin Democratic Party issued the following news:
Governor Scott Walker announced today another empty, desperate political promise, but the damage done by Walker's anti-education agenda looms as large as ever. Driven by partisan politics and personal ambition, Walker has methodically worked to dismantle the state's education system. Through his two terms a Governor, Walker has slashed education funding, antagonized educators, and forced students to suffer the consequences.
"Scott Walker has absolutely zero credibility on this issue -- one of his very first
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MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 15 -- The Wisconsin Democratic Party issued the following news:
Governor Scott Walker announced today another empty, desperate political promise, but the damage done by Walker's anti-education agenda looms as large as ever. Driven by partisan politics and personal ambition, Walker has methodically worked to dismantle the state's education system. Through his two terms a Governor, Walker has slashed education funding, antagonized educators, and forced students to suffer the consequences.
"Scott Walker has absolutely zero credibility on this issue -- one of his very firstmoves as Governor was to pass a budget that slashed $800 million from our classrooms," said Courtney Beyer, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson. "Walker must be desperate if he's suddenly changing his tune on this issue twenty-two days before election day. Why should Wisconsinites trust Walker to follow through on this promise when they're still recovering from his previous cuts and raising their own taxes to pick up the difference? This move is not about ensuring a better future for Wisconsin families, but about Scott Walker securing re-election."
Scott Walker's terrible record is clear. On funding Wisconsin schools and supporting its teachers and students, Scott Walker has earned himself a failing grade.
Record Cuts
As soon as he took office, Scott Walker declared war on public education. Walker's first budget made record cuts to education funding, eliminating $800 million from public schools. School districts had to deal with a median decrease in aid of nearly 10%. But he didn't stop there. Years after his initial cuts, Walker pushed through more reductions in funding. Headlines and editorials across the state describe the cuts using words like savages, dismember, and travesty, and they still might not have adequately captured how much damage was done.
These cuts have been so devastating, schools across the state have gone to referendum to raise to properly fund their school systems. Since 2011, more than 1 million Wisconsinites have voted to raise their own property taxes because Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have not adequately funded our public schools.
Over the last eight years, Tony Evers' budget proposals would have provided $2.4 billion in additional education funding, while holding the line on taxes. Walker's budget proposals would leave Wisconsin school with $63 million less in funding than when he took office.
Walker also signed off on a controversial special needs voucher program for private schools, while providing no funding for Wisconsin's primary special education aid. Tony has put our most vulnerable student first, proposing more funding for special education aid in every budget.
Attacking Educators
As if the record funding cuts weren't hard enough on educators already, Walker went after their paychecks too. Act 10 gutted teacher bargaining power, and effectively cut their take home pay. Just 5 years after Act 10, the median compensation for Wisconsin teachers had dropped by 12.6%. Now Wisconsin teacher pay ranks below the national average and lower than each one of its Midwest neighbors. So not only did Walker ask Wisconsin educators to do more with fewer resources, he paid them less to do it.
With poorer working conditions and lower pay, it's no shock teachers fled the state in droves. The year after Act 10 was passed, the teacher exit rate nearly doubled from 6.4% to 10.5%, and remains at an elevated level of 8.8%. With so many educators leaving, Wisconsin schools are filled with less experienced teachers. Nearly a quarter have less than five years of experience.
Walker's proposed solution to the rapidly growing teacher shortage was cutting time in the classroom and lowering qualifications for new hires. That's the Walker education legacy: less time in the classroom, fewer qualified teachers.
Students Suffered
The deteriorating conditions took their toll on Wisconsin students. The numbers don't lie. Now, Wisconsin spends about $1,000 less per pupil than before Walker took office and ranks below six other Midwest states.
Lower income and minority communities have especially suffered. Under Walker, Wisconsin has the largest achievement gap between black and white students in the entire country. Walker also ended a class size reduction program that had been shown to raise achievement and graduation rates in low income schools.
Walker pushed a partisan agenda, and students suffered across the board.
Conclusion
Of all the terrible policies Scott Walker has implemented in his eight years as governor, his relentless attacks on public education might be the worst. Walker systematically stripped schools of their resources, drove away talented educators, and forced students to get by with less. All together his policies have resulted in fewer students graduating and fewer kids prepared for the future.
Now that he's in an election year, Walker is making all sorts of promises in an effort to gloss over his record of destruction and failure. Unfortunately for him, the results speak for themselves, and Wisconsin families won't be fooled.
For too long, Walker has played politics with our schools, and people are fed up. Wisconsin's education problem starts at the top. The only way to get back on track to fully funding our schools and supporting our students is to get rid of Scott Walker once and for all. This November, Wisconsin will elect Tony Evers, who has spent his life dedicated to education, as its next Governor.
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Issues Statement on Death of State Rep. O'Brien
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 15 -- The Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills on the death of Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike O'Brien, D-Philadelphia:
"The people of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have lost a great champion in Representative Mike O'Brien today.
"He was a dear friend and neighbor to all who knew him in his district.
"He was a leader in ensuring that children have a good, quality education so they can succeed, regardless of their zip code.
"His voice will be missed in Harrisburg, and on behalf of the entire Pennsylvania Democratic
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 15 -- The Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills on the death of Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike O'Brien, D-Philadelphia:
"The people of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have lost a great champion in Representative Mike O'Brien today.
"He was a dear friend and neighbor to all who knew him in his district.
"He was a leader in ensuring that children have a good, quality education so they can succeed, regardless of their zip code.
"His voice will be missed in Harrisburg, and on behalf of the entire Pennsylvania DemocraticParty, we send his family our prayers."
Peapack Gladstone Mayor Bill Muller Endorses Tom Malinowski
MARTINSVILLE, New Jersey, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Tom Malinowski, a Democrat running for election in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news:
Peapack-Gladstone Mayor Bill Muller today endorsed Tom Malinowski in his race for House of Representatives in New Jersey's 7th District. Muller, a Republican, has served as mayor since 2014 and is seeking a second term.
"This Congress is not working together to produce meaningful results for the country and punishing New Jersey taxpayers in the process," said Mayor Muller. "Tom Malinowski is the kind of out of the
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MARTINSVILLE, New Jersey, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Tom Malinowski, a Democrat running for election in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news:
Peapack-Gladstone Mayor Bill Muller today endorsed Tom Malinowski in his race for House of Representatives in New Jersey's 7th District. Muller, a Republican, has served as mayor since 2014 and is seeking a second term.
"This Congress is not working together to produce meaningful results for the country and punishing New Jersey taxpayers in the process," said Mayor Muller. "Tom Malinowski is the kind of out of thebox thinker our area needs right now. He shares my values and can be the voice in Congress this district needs."
"I am humbled to have Mayor Muller's support. This election has to be about putting country over party, and Mayor Muller is leading by example," said Malinowski. "I'm committed to reaching across the aisle to address our common concerns: infrastructure spending, restoring your SALT deduction, making healthcare more affordable. This Congress has hurt the 7th district in real and tangible ways. To change Congress we need to change our congressman."
Mayor Muller joins Alexandria Mayor Michelle Garay, Stockton Councilman Nic Messina, and former Clinton Councilman Dan Shea as Republican elected officials supporting Tom Malinowski. Tom was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor with unanimous support from the U.S. Senate and was introduced at his confirmation hearing by Senator John McCain.
LCV Action Fund Endorses Andy Levin for Congress
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Andy Levin, a Democrat running for election in Michigan's 9th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
October 15, 2018The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund endorsed Andy Levin for the 9thCongressional District on Saturday with a rally and canvassing event in the district.
"Andy Levin has long been a strong ally in the fight for environmental protections and clean energy," said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. "He understands the importance of reducing pollution
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CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Michigan, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Andy Levin, a Democrat running for election in Michigan's 9th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
October 15, 2018The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund endorsed Andy Levin for the 9thCongressional District on Saturday with a rally and canvassing event in the district.
"Andy Levin has long been a strong ally in the fight for environmental protections and clean energy," said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. "He understands the importance of reducing pollutioninto our Great Lakes and rivers, and addressing the threat of climate change. We trust Andy to make the environment a top priority in Congress."
In 2011, Levin founded and continues to run his own company, Levin Energy Partners. He has created a statewide market to finance clean energy building improvements called Lean & Green Michigan. Today, 68 percent of all Michiganders live in a Lean & Green Michigan jurisdiction, and they are starting to choose energy efficiency, water efficiency and renewable energy projects on every manner of business and non-profit building.
"We have a moral obligation to protect and preserve our land, air and water, starting with our Great Lakes," Levin said. "We have to tackle overtaxed and outdated sewer systems that threaten waterways like the Clinton River and add pollutants to Lake St. Clair. We need to protect our water not just in the wilderness, but also in Flint and every other city. Above all, we must address climate change with tremendous urgency, and that means rapid transition to a clean energy economy."
Following the rally for Levin, state House candidates Mari Manoogian, Mallory McMorrow and Padma Kuppa, who have been endorsed by the Michigan LCV, held a rally, after which volunteers headed out to canvass for all three candidates.
Katie Porter Raises Nearly Three Times More Than Mimi Walters in Third Quarter
IRVINE, California, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Katie Porter, a Democrat running for election in California's 45th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Today, the Katie Porter campaign announced raising nearly $3 Million in the third quarter of 2018, and more than $5 Million in the general election cycle - far outpacing two-term incumbent Mimi Walters in the race for the 45th Congressional seat.
"Katie Porter is humbled by the overwhelming support she has received in her bid for the 45th congressional seat. Our campaign received more than 180,000 contributions in
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IRVINE, California, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Katie Porter, a Democrat running for election in California's 45th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Today, the Katie Porter campaign announced raising nearly $3 Million in the third quarter of 2018, and more than $5 Million in the general election cycle - far outpacing two-term incumbent Mimi Walters in the race for the 45th Congressional seat.
"Katie Porter is humbled by the overwhelming support she has received in her bid for the 45th congressional seat. Our campaign received more than 180,000 contributions inthe general election cycle so far, with an average contribution of $27.50, showing true grassroots support," said Katie Porter for Congress campaign manager Erica Kwiatkowski. "Although we are encouraged by the vote of confidence in her candidacy, we will continue to campaign every day until Election Day because we know that voters want a leader who will put Orange County families first, not powerful special interests."
Recent polls show that Democrat Katie Porter is slightly ahead of two-term Republican incumbent Mimi Walters for the 45th Congressional seat. A September 25th New York Times released poll found Katie Porter ahead of incumbent Mimi Walters with 48 percent to 43 percent respectively. A Los Angeles Times poll released October 4 found Katie Porter at 52 percent and Mimi Walters at 45 percent.
Kara Eastman Releases Medicare for All Policy Paper
OMAHA, Nebraska, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Kara Eastman, a Democrat running for election in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Today, Kara Eastman, the Democratic candidate for Nebraska's Second District released a policy paper on Medicare for All.
"Every American should have the right to healthcare, regardless of income level. Medicare for All would help us finally achieve this goal by keeping healthcare costs in check, allowing medical professionals to make the decisions about our healthcare needs, and making it so families no longer need to
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OMAHA, Nebraska, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Kara Eastman, a Democrat running for election in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Today, Kara Eastman, the Democratic candidate for Nebraska's Second District released a policy paper on Medicare for All.
"Every American should have the right to healthcare, regardless of income level. Medicare for All would help us finally achieve this goal by keeping healthcare costs in check, allowing medical professionals to make the decisions about our healthcare needs, and making it so families no longer need todeal with rising premiums, huge deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs."
Read the policy paper by clicking here (http://eastmanforcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Policy-Papers_-Medicare-for-All.pdf)
Kara is the former President and CEO of Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance and the Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Metropolitan Community College. She is the Democratic nominee running for Congress in Nebraska's Second District.
Bill to Reform Government, Elections Should Be the Top Item on the Agenda in 2019
IRVINE, California, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Katie Porter, a Democrat running for election in California's 45th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Americans don't believe that their government works for them. And they're right. They also know that all of the money spent in politics affects every decision made in Washington - and it's not to the benefit of everyday, working families.
Instead, mega donors and special interests have access and influence to lawmakers, members of the administration, and other decision makers that the rest of us don't. At best, there's
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IRVINE, California, Oct. 15 -- The campaign of Katie Porter, a Democrat running for election in California's 45th Congressional District, issued the following campaign news release:
Americans don't believe that their government works for them. And they're right. They also know that all of the money spent in politics affects every decision made in Washington - and it's not to the benefit of everyday, working families.
Instead, mega donors and special interests have access and influence to lawmakers, members of the administration, and other decision makers that the rest of us don't. At best, there'san uneven playing field stacked in favor of the biggest donors. At worst, this corrupt pay to play system means that politicians are doing the bidding for the individual and corporate special interests who fund and support their campaigns at the expense of the American people.
In either case, this rigged system that gives more wealth to the wealthy and more power to the powerful is unacceptable. Time and again, polling shows that Americans of every party believe this is a top issue for concern, consistently ranking as the No. 1 or No. 2 issue among independents. Voters are calling for change.
Born out of that call is a new generation of leaders who are running for Congress to change Washington. Many of them are first-time candidates, non-politicians who decided to run for office because they saw the system fail, often firsthand. For some, it was a personal experience with the cost or access to health care. Others were veterans who couldn't sit on the sidelines and watch the country they fought for continue down this path. For others, it was the opioid crisis, or lax gun laws, or watching Congress raise taxes on the middle class to pay for a tax cut for corporate donors.
Binding this class of candidates together is a common thread that we must reform Washington in a truly transformational way. We must end the corrosive influence of big money and change the pervasive culture of corruption permeates in the capital. These candidates have made this reform a central part of their campaigns. Many of them have declared they'll be more transparent and accessible. Among their commitments include making their congressional schedules public, holding regular town halls and forums, pledging never to become lobbyists, or refusing to take corporate PAC and special interest money in their campaigns.
This week, almost half of the Democratic challengers for seats in the House of Representatives, led by Katie Porter (Calif.-45), Jason Crow (Colo.-6), Lauren Baer (Fla.-18), Sharice Davids (Kan.-3), Elissa Slotkin (Mich.-8), Dean Phillips (Minn.-3), Andy Kim (N.J.-3), Tom Malinowski (N.J.-7), Max Rose (N.Y.-11), Antonio Delgado (N.Y.-19), Colin Allred (Texas-32), and Abigail Spanberger (Va.-7), united in a call to Congress to make a bold and sweeping reform bill the very first item of business in the next Congress. More than 100 of them from across the country, in some of the most competitive red, purple, and blue districts wrote to the House of Representatives:
Restoring faith in our elections and in the integrity of our elected officials should be a top priority that all members of Congress can agree upon. Without these reforms we will be unable to truly regain the public trust or tackle the challenges of our day, like the costs of health care and prescription drugs, the opioid epidemic, or building an economy that is strong for working families.
For those reasons, these reforms must be sweeping, and they must be bold. They must be the very first item Congress addresses. We must not yield on this demand, the American public is counting on us.
End Citizens United was proud to support the efforts of these candidates and distribute the letter on their behalf. The candidates are demanding that the first bill in the House of Representative in the 116 Congress include:
* limiting the influence of big donors on campaigns, quashing the political influence, real or perceived, special interests currently have in our government and providing incentives for donors to make small contributions to federal candidates;
* finally requiring genuine accountability through disclosure of all political spending and ensuring foreign money has no way of influencing our elections;
* shutting the revolving door between elected officials and the professional, special-interest lobbying industry;
* strengthening congressional ethics laws and their enforcement, including the adoption of harsher penalties for breaking the law and betraying the public trust;
* ending the imbalanced and divisive practice of political gerrymandering that currently allows the undemocratic practice of politicians picking their voters, rather than ensuring that voters pick their representatives; and
* removing, once and for all, the deliberate and partisan barriers that prohibit millions of Americans from freely and fairly exercising their right to vote.
Reforming Washington and the ending the culture of corruption has been an electoral talking point before. But, not since the 1974 Watergate Babies have we had a crop of candidates running for Congress who uniformly and genuinely believe we need to fundamentally restructure the system so the field is tilted back to the people.
This class of candidates will lead the charge to make sure that those who write the biggest checks no longer have the biggest say. That's how our democracy is supposed to work - elected representatives making decision on behalf of their constituents. That is how we meet the challenges of our day and ensure that we have a government of, for, and by the people.
