McDonnell for Governor: VEA Highlights Education Policy Differences between Gubernatorial Candidates  
- McDonnell Campaign Statement Below

FROM THE OFFICE OF MCDONNELL FOR GOVERNOR

June 25, 2009

Contact: Crystal Cameron
Crystal.Cameron@bobmcdonnell.com 
(804) 612.9111


RICHMOND- The McDonnell campaign thanked the Virginia Education Association today for their email to members statewide regarding the gubernatorial candidates and their positions on Virginia's public education system.  McDonnell for Governor Press Secretary Crystal Cameron issued the following statement:

"We appreciate the VEA letting Virginia parents, teachers and voters know about where the candidates stand on Virginia's public education system. It is a clear contrast, as their email demonstrates. Bob McDonnell supports innovation, accountability, and additional choices for parents and students. Creigh Deeds stands with union interests, opposes education reform and favors the same old status quo.

In this race only Bob McDonnell is committed to true education reform. He is the only candidate standing with President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in support of expanding charter schools and rewarding top performing teachers and principals.  He is the only candidate calling for more money in the classroom, to help teachers, and less in administration and bureaucracy.

He is the only candidate who will require more discipline, ethics, and financial literacy to be taught in the classroom.

This email makes it clear; Virginia voters have a real choice this November when it comes to the direction in which they want our public education system to go. With 72 Virginia public schools not fully accredited, Bob McDonnell is the only candidate calling for a school turnaround czar to be sure that all of Virginia's young people can attend a good school.  It's time for real education reform in the Commonwealth. Bob McDonnell will not tolerate putting the tired old status quo ahead of helping every student get the world class education they deserve, no matter where they live in Virginia."

Below is the e-mail sent to statewide educators and constituents

June 25, 2009

Subject: CLI: Sizing up Deeds and McDonnell on Education Issues

Dear xxxxxx,



As we decide which gubernatorial candidate to support, the fact that Deeds and McDonnell have voting records is significant.  Kaine, having come to the Mansion by the way of local government, had no state level voting record to back his words.  Deeds and McDonnell have shown their true stripes as they have voted over many years and many session in the Virginia General Assembly.

The VEA Fund (formerly known as VEA-PAC) has not recommended a candidate, so I find myself in the delightful position of being able to discuss the positions the candidates are taking from a policy rather than a political perspective.  I won't judge the candidates, but I will tell you where they stand, with an emphasis on those areas that offer a contrast.  I am fortunate to have completed questionnaires from both candidates, the tapes of our forum in which they both participated http://(http://www.veanea.org/vea-on-your-side/gov-forum.html) and we just finished interviewing both candidates.

First, if you examine the candidate's VEA voting records you will see that Deeds and McDonnell have a clear history based on many sessions.    In 15 regular and 2 special sessions Deeds VEA voting record is 93.5%.  In 11 regular sessions and 2 special sessions, McDonnell's VEA voting record is 52.4%

 

Deeds = 93.5%

McDonnell = 52.4%

 

The most obvious contrast in positions is over the issue of public funds to private schools via vouchers or tuition-tax-credits.  Deeds opposed vouchers and tuition-tax-credits, while Bob McDonnell supported tuition-tax-credits.  While he alludes to Constitutional concerns regarding vouchers, McDonnell will not say that he opposes them. and he supports the voucher program in DC.

 

Deeds opposes efforts to eliminate or weaken Virginia's continuing contract laws.  McDonnell refuses to answer "yes" or "no" to the question and alludes to Michelle Rhee in Washington, D.C., who is "making comprehensive reforms in the school system ...."

 

While Deeds supports expanding the retiree health care credit to educational support professionals, McDonnell says he "will need more information on the fiscal impact and our current budget situation."

 

Deeds supports permissive meet-and-confer legislation, while McDonnell opposes.

 

Perhaps, McDonnell's strong support for "performance based incentives," too, is a matter of contrast?  I have heard him espousing linkage of test scores and pay and he lists this item as one of his top priorities on his questionnaire, but I have not heard Deeds react to a question on that topic.

 

The 2004 Special Session, which led to an additional $1.5 billion dollars for public education, was probably the most consequential session in the political lives of the two candidates.  In that session Deeds stood with Governor Warner, Senator Chichester and VEA in support of restoring structural balance to the budget of the Commonwealth and investing in public education.  McDonnell was dead set against us.

 

When every candidate has a dear relative who is a teacher and all see public education as the "top priority" it is difficult to determine "Who's for kids, and who's just kidding?"  I hope this overview is helpful as you begin to decide which candidate deserves your support.  The VEA Fund may offer a recommendation on July 23.  I urge all to vote on November 3.

 

Thank you,

Robley Jones

VEA GR