[ROTHSCHILD] The economy is down, unemployment up, recovery shaky, and our economic future is heading for unexplored territory. Furthermore, thousands of Wisconsin school employees may soon be unemployed. So, how does the Department of Public Instruction propose to get out of this mess?

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers wants to ask Congress for a $23 billion education jobs bill to stave off teacher layoffs for next year via the “Keep Our Educators Working Bill.“ Jim Maas, candidate for the 85th Assembly seat, wonders where politicians and bureaucrats get their news.

“Has no one in Madison noticed that Washington is also unable to keep from spending more than the government takes in? Who do they think would eventually pay for the additional debt to bail out schools, other than the children we need to educate?”

Wisconsin’s private sector employers have dealt with economic realities for the past three years with layoffs, pay freezes, pay cuts, benefit reductions, and furloughs. Thousands of employers are out of business and 342,000 jobs lost over the past 3 years.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel, unless you believe the government.

“Innovations as well as sacrifices are called for to save Wisconsin’s industries and schools,” says Maas. Some proactive private Wisconsin businesses explain the predicament to their employees and ask for their input to help save their company and jobs. Sacrifices have been some of the, hopefully temporary, solutions, mutually agreed to. Educators can no longer depend on Madison or Washington to save their schools. They need to do it themselves, through their local associations, in collaboration with their school boards. Both must reach out and work with each other.”

“Many in my family, including myself, have been school teachers. I understand, first hand, the pain educators are going through. However, none of them can expect the government to fix it for them. They must do it themselves.”

Maas also suggests that this might be a good time for Wisconsin schools to closely examine all unfunded government mandates.

Jim Maas is the Libertarian candidate for the 85th District Assembly seat, promoting constitutional government and a balanced budget.

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