CONTACT:  Jasmine Lyons  (202) 822-7823 

November 8, 2006 

Friends of Public Education Elected in Key States

NEA President calls results “victory for children” 

WASHINGTON—Tuesday’s midterm elections resulted in major victories for quality public education, with voters electing pro-public education governors and members of Congress in key states and Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives.  There could be a power shift in the Senate as well, as America awaits results in Virginia.

“This is a victory for children and public education.  I’m hopeful that this shift results in resources for children, respect for education employees and a renewed sense of responsibility by all,” said Reg Weaver, National Education Association president. “The victories last night mark a critical change in course.  Now the task is to make sure lawmakers make good on campaign promises.  There must be accountability.”

NEA’s 3.2 million members took an active role in many Congressional campaigns by supporting Democratic and Republican candidates around the country who advocated positive public education agendas. The Association supports candidates based on their commitment to quality public schools, not party affiliations.

New friends of education were elected to the Senate, including Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., a Democrat, who ousted incumbent Republican Senator Rick Santorum. Santorum received an ‘F’ on the most recent NEA Congressional scorecard. Ohio voters unseated Republican Senator Mike DeWine and elected Representative Sherrod Brown, a Democrat. In Minnesota, voters elected Democrat Amy Klobuchar, a long-time friend of public education.

In races for the U.S. House of Representatives, voters also elected public education allies. They include Democrat Zack Space, who triumphed over Republican State Senator Joy Padgett in Ohio.  In Pennsylvania, incumbent Representative Jim Gerlach, a Republican, edged out Democrat Lois Murphy. Gerlach has a proven record that supports children and public schools.

At the state level, voters elected numerous governors who support quality public schools, including the overwhelming reelection of Democratic Governor Ed Rendell in Pennsylvania. In the Ohio gubernatorial race, voters elected Representative Ted Strickland, a Democrat, over Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

In Maine, voters rejected a proposal modeled after Colorado's so-called "Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights.”  TABOR would shrink already inadequate public education funding to a mere trickle, paving the way for school privatization. Since 1992, TABOR has taken a toll on Colorado—the state ranks 47th in K–12 education funding as a share of state income.

And in South Dakota, voters rejected another proposal that would have further reduced spending on public education. Amendment D would have capped the allowable growth in property tax value for homes.
 
Even with these key political victories, and many others last night, advocating for quality public schools will require careful political navigation, Weaver said. The Bush administration has pledged to continue pushing the fundamentally flawed No Child Left Behind Act, which is underfunded by about $40 billion and up for reauthorization next year.

“Voters made it clear on Tuesday that public education is a national priority that lawmakers have a duty to address,” Weaver said. “We must remain vigilant long after the elections if we are to protect the basic right of every child to a quality public education.”

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.