Our Take: With Shame Comes a Chance at Redemption
February 19, 2008
Update: Senate Recinds Agreement, Alters Bipartisan Compromise
Our Take: With Shame Comes a Chance at Redemption
Whoever said making legislation was a lot like making sausage (you may like the end result but the process isn't pretty) sure was right. Or so far, half right.
The State Senate today passed SB396 but only after altering the much-praised bipartisan compromise to include an onerous Lock Out of new families who may have wished to pursue the public virtual school option.
The bill now advances to the Assembly. Fortunately the Assembly is expected to advance a bill of it's own that ressurects the Bipartisan Public Virtual School Rescue Plan that was unveiled only three short weeks ago.
Here is the statement from Rose Fernandez, President of our Coalition:
"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."
So, here are answers to the most commonly asked questions tonight:
1) Who was with us? Who was against us.
Here are the names of the State Senators who voted against the amendment, which imposed the Lock Out and blew up the Bipartisan Public
Virtual School Compromise.
Robert Cowles
Alberta Darling
Michael Ellis
Jon Erpenbach
Scott Fitzgerald
Glenn Grothman
Sheila Harsdorf
Theodore Kanavas
Dan Kapanke
Neal Kedzie
Alan Lasee
Mary Lazich
Joe Leibham
Luther Olsen
Carol Roessler
Dale Schultz
These legislators are champions for virtual schools. They deserve your thanks. These legislators listened to you, not the powerful special interest lobbyists. Unfortunately 16 votes was not enough to strike down attempt to alter the Bipartisan compromise.
Senator John Lehman, the author of the original compromise, moved to amend the bill at the request of the Governor and, by his own admission, at the behest of WEAC.
We hope that in the future, those who agreed to work together for a bipartisan compromise will abandon the petty power politics that were on display in Madison Tuesday and will recommit to working in a bipartisan fashion.
2) What's next?
The State Assembly is expected to meet next week. We have high hopes that they will resurrect this bipartisan compromise. Every Senator, even opponents of virtual schools, acknowledged that our efforts were making a difference in these now ongoing negotiations. We believe our continued advocacy will yield positive results.
3) If the Governor is against us, do we have any hope of winning?
We will not concede that the Governor is against us. Although his 11th hour request for changes to the Bipartisan Public Virtual School Rescue Bill derailed the compromise, we believe we can work for a better solution.
As Rose said, we believe that where there is shame, there is a chance at redemption.
We remain optimistic that with our continued efforts, Public Virtual Schools in Wisconsin will continue to not only survive, but thrive...and that Wisconsin's children, including many with special needs, will continue to have access to this successful educational innovation.
4) So, what do we do now?
It's been a long and challenging day. Tomorrow we'll have some action items for you. We just wanted to get you the news of today's developments ASAP.
5) Have my efforts mattered?
Yes. Without the continued efforts of the Coalition, we could very well be reading headlines today about the demise of Virtual Schools in Wisconsin. Now, even the skeptics admit that Virtual Public Schools work and should continue to exist. Don't underestimate that progress.
THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE THE CALLS, ENDURED A LONG DAY IN MADISON, TALKED TO FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND COLLEAUGES AND OTHERWISE HELPED ADVANCE OUR CAUSE.
We're making a difference. And as Rose said, we are NOT going away.
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