February 19, 2008
For Immediate Release, February 19, 2008 Contact: Rose Fernandez, 262-565-7844
PARENT COALITION STATEMENT ON TODAY’S SENATE ACTION REGARDING VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
[Madison, WI] -- The following statement is from Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families.
“Today, more than 100 children and their parents were on hand in the Senate Gallery to witness a shameful display of partisan power politics at its worst. The Republicans in the State Senate, along with Democrat State Senator Jon Erpenbach, voted to honor the previously-agreed-to, bipartisan compromise.
“At the 11th hour, Governor Doyle and many Democrat Senators who previously supported the much-touted, bipartisan compromise, decided to renegotiate the deal at the behest of one powerful special-interest group. After several hours of what proved to be empty rhetoric, and political gamesmanship that included a re-vote, the State Senate voted to lock out future families from Wisconsin’s public virtual schools.
“It was shameful. But with shame comes a chance at redemption.
“We hope and will continue to fight for a revival of the bipartisan compromise in the State Assembly.
“We are not going away.”
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