Pro-Voucher Group Urges Corbett to Exploit Phila. $ Schools Crisis to Help His Re-Election

[JPZenger]

Last edited Thu Jun 20, 2013, 11:24 AM - Edit history (2)

Corbett is being urged to exploit the current crisis in the funding of the Philadelphia School District to help his chances for re-election. A group is urging Corbett to use the crisis as a "wedge issue" to gain political benefits from attacking teachers unions.

The Philadelphia City Paper is reporting that the poll was funded by PennCAN, a "pro-reform" educational group that supports school vouchers and whose parent organization receives funds from the family that owns Walmart, among other sources.

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Secret-poll-Corbett-attack-teachers.html

http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Secret-Corbett-poll-proposing-teachers-union-attack-funded-by-PennCAN.html



AP Photo of Phila. school children delivering their letters to Gov. Corbett's office to ask for help in avoiding massive layoffs of guidance counselors, teachers and other staff. "PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!!"
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Excerpt of first City Paper article:

"Findings from a secret poll conducted by a prominent Republican firm proposes that Gov. Tom Corbett attack the Philadelphia teachers union to overcome widespread opposition to his education policies and bolster his faltering re-election prospects. "Taking on this fight moves Corbett's approval scores on handling education" and "boosts his overall approval numbers."

The poll suggests that Corbett, a governor who has long suffered from low public-approval ratings, condition state aid to Philadelphia schools on major union concessions and kickstart his hobbled reelection campaign with a high-profile fight against the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

"With Governor Corbett's weak job approval, re-elect and ballot support numbers, the current Philadelphia school crisis presents an opportunity for the Governor to wedge the electorate on an issue that is favorable to him," the poll concludes. "Staging this battle presents Corbett with an opportunity to coalesce his base, focus on a key emerging issue in the state, and campaign against an 'enemy' that's going to aggressively oppose him in '14 in any case."

[femmocrat]

1. They make me sick. nt