"Gov. Brownback and his party’s out-of-the-mainstream legislative caucus owe every teacher in Kansas an apology for their outrageous suggestion that teachers are somehow a security threat to women legislators. Without one shred of credible evidence, the caucus needlessly alarmed legislators and insulted teachers in one fell stroke.
Our teachers are in the classroom every day educating and nurturing the children of Kansas. These teachers are our neighbors, our friends, our fellow parents, church goers and taxpayers. Yet now, some Republicans are saying that first-grade teachers and school librarians and all the other conscientious, dedicated teaching professionals who spend all day with our kids are a danger to legislators? That’s ludicrous - and shameful.
The only thing more disgraceful than this insult to teachers is the legislative agenda of Gov. Brownback and his followers. It’s an agenda written word for word by out-of-state special interests in backroom deals. It’s an agenda that will hurt every working family in Kansas, from higher taxes to bigger class sizes in our schools to arguably less safe roads and bridges.
The danger lurking in our statehouse doesn’t come from teachers. The danger comes from an extremist agenda that rewards the super-rich, hurts hard-working Kansans, and violates our fundamental freedoms."
-- United Teachers of Wichita
Note: This press release was prompted, in part, by the introduction and passage of House Bill 2023. Misleadingly dubbed "paycheck protection", HB 2023 completely removes 1st Amendment rights of political speech for public sector unions. For example, an editorial such as this one from a public sector union will be illegal if HB 2023 becomes law.
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