Jessie Rodriguez won the Republican primary in the 21st Assembly District Tuesday. School choice won, too.
The American Federation for Children spent more than $45,000 to support Rodriguez in her race, according to this story from WisPolitics. That’s about $30 per vote she received.
$30 per vote!
It wasn’t all good news for the AFC, however. In the 69th District primary, the AFC-backed candidate who also received about $45,000 in support, lost handily.
Say what you want about AFC and school choice — and as the proud parent of children enrolled in the terrific South Milwaukee school system, I don’t support it — something has to change when it comes to the role of outside money in politics, doesn’t it?
Discuss.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Wow $45K – I’m sure the Franklin, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee School districts could have used that money.
Erik,
Now that you’re running for mayor, don’t you think it would be wise to tone down the liberal rhetoric – or are you just showing your true (blue fist) colors?
Randy: I appreciate your comments on this, but I consider myself a moderate. I believe there are good ideas all over, no matter what your party affiliation. And my mayoral campaign is all about bringing those ideas to life to make South Milwaukee a better place. My vision for this city is apolitical, and it should be. My pledge: Leave politics aside and focus on the issues, ideas and solutions critical to this city and its future. And I can’t wait to do it.
That said, I also think the issue of big outside money influence in politics crosses party lines. It’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s something we should all be concerned about, no matter where that money comes from and no matter where a person’s politics lie.
How are comments (about Jessie Rodriguez’ victory) like “Buying elections? Never! Not in America! /tongue firmly in cheek” apolitical?
You couched your original comment: “something has to change when it comes to the role of outside money in politics, doesn’t it?” in your reply but why is it only when a conservative wins we get comments like that?
In a mayor I want to see someone that can work with both sides in an HONEST discussion of issues. So far you’re not giving that impression.
Fair point. There was no need for sarcasm there. My apologies. I do believe this needs an honest discussion, and a common-sense solution.
Erik
Did you or your wife sign the recall of Gov. Walker?
Mike Sosalla
Mike, see this link:
I am disappointed my wife has been brought into this discussion. I did not sign the petition. That should be what matters here.
I’ll speak for me and leave my wife out of it. I did not.
I believe you would be interested in reading these two articles. So Why are we not engaging in conversation about Common Core in our public school district? http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_American_Federation_for_Children
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2013/09/alec-behind-common-core-education-standards/
Randy, may I ask if you live in the city of South Milwaukee?
Yes. I do.
This is not a republican or democrat issue, we have special interest groups from Washington interested in our local election. This is concerning. Why would this group that in their title states they are for children also in large font put they are concerned with taxes and the taxpayer. I would love to know how this is congruent with their mission. Also, why are they spending $45,000 on this primary? They went through and spent this like it was water flowing from a faucet. Keep in mind this is nearly what the average income is in Wisconsin and they spent it in a blink of an eye.
I for one don’t want this bill mill supported candidate running my district.
Also, keep in mind, they spent more on this primary election than what the assembly job pays annually in salary. Say what?
Why would you think that education and taxes/taxpayers are separate issues? The obscene amounts of taxpayer dollars that have subsidized a largely failing government run education industry IS the issue that voucher and choice programs are attempting to address – THAT’S about the kids not the teacher’s unions unending want for Cadillac benefit/retirement plans.
I find it pathetic that those who always criticize government are the same ones calling for lower taxes and less government. Along the same lines, diverting funds from public schools and funding for-profit, unaccountable voucher schools will not help students. Starving the beast kills the beast. But I guess this is what those Tea Party nuts want, isn’t it? Ask yourself, why do the Koch brothers fund far-right groups like AFC? Follow the money… Jessie Rodriguez definitely will.
Randy: I believe that we need the best and the brightest as teachers. To recruit and retain these professionals, teachers deserve MORE benefits and compensation, not less. I am willing to pay MORE in taxes to strengthen our public schools. Voucher schools, funded by your tax dollars, are NO better than public schools, yet I rarely hear school choice supporters talking about accountability and transparency. Go figure.
Mark, may I ask you if you are a teacher or employed by the government education system?
Or is creating these voucher schools run by corporations a thin veil at cutting taxes and creating more stockholders? Seems like a real conflict of interest to me. What most people refuse to understand is that public schools have a legal responsibility to educate all children. For YEARS private schools could select who they wanted to educate. They have not taken children with special needs that are always more of a cost to educate. The public believes it’s all about the pensions and salaries, it can be expensive to educate children with special needs, kids that are learning English as a second language, etc. This is why it’s cheaper, most private schools turn these kids away.
I believe in my public schools, I think they are great, I stand by them and think if we get rid of them our country is in danger.
I am not a public school teacher, do not work for the schools for pay whatsoever. I volunteer a hell of a lot and I see many teachers working countless hours and am sick and tired of people thinking their work is so easy.
Government-run schools have a legal responsibility to educate all children because the people ceded that responsibility to politicians who, falsely claim, that they know better how to educate children than local parents. “Special needs” children were traditionally taken care of by charitable organizations or schools designed to deal with those needs as opposed to the one-size-fits-all government schools. We have been so brainwashed by self-interested politicians and the media that government is the solution to everything that we can’t even see the failure that, in general – not all, the government-run schools are. Our rankings in the world have been steadily dropping for decades but there’s no accountability for that failure. I believe most teachers have good intentions and wok hard but the NEA and WEAC co-opted and corrupted too many of them to think and act like unionized factory workers – not the professionals that they are.
Randy, do you believe SM schools are failing? Why would you support a candidate who would take YOUR tax dollars and fund voucher schools with LESS accountability than public schools? This really isn’t about the kids, it’s about for-profit schools trying to get a piece of the pie.
Thank you for motivating me to work harder for public schools, teachers, and my kids.
I would guess that you are also a supporter of the indoctrination program called common-core.
Randy: If you answer my questions, I’ll answer yours. Deal?
Oh yeah, I’m NOT a teacher or a government employee. I run my own business and I am a father of two SM students. I read, I think, and I vote. Every time.
In like-to-like comparison to other government-run schools I do not think SM is failing – it’s probably one of the better schools. In real-world comparison to other countries’ education systems ours is falling behind. The US spends much more money than most countries on “education”. Throwing yet more money at it isn’t going to improve anything. My son is an SM alum and he’s doing quite well. I read voraciously, think critically and vote.
Randy the best schools are in scandinavia they are run by the government they also have high taxes and run their countries close to or at socialist levels are saying thats what we should do sm has a 98.2 percent graduation rate mps where the problem is has a 51 percent grad rate they are too big they need to break mps into smaller districts we can no longer as of the last state budget look at individual voucher schools that info is off limits to the public only parents of students going to those schools can find out anything.
Excellent point tony. I just read an article about that. I wish I could remember where so I could include a link to it. Somebody did a comparison and found some surprising differences. 1) In the Scandinavian country being studied, it was extremely difficult to become a teacher – very selective at the teacher’s colleges, high GPA’s required and only a few approved. In the US, on the other hand, the requirements are often less than they are for other majors. The US teacher in the story, got into teaching because it was the only way he could coach, and said he wasn’t even particularly good at Math (his subject) when he was in high school. The Scandinavians have “stoners” just like you would see hanging around any other school in the US. Only difference (and surprise for the author) was that they paid attention in class. When asked why, the stoner looked at her like she was dumb or something and made a comment about that being the only way of getting into college.
Tony,
The Scandinavia you describe was true until the ’90s when they turned away from socialism and began again to prosper. They went from some of the richest countries in Europe in the ’40s to ’60s to some of the poorest as their taxes skyrocketed due to government takeovers of most aspects of people’s lives. They finally realized they were going broke and moved toward capitalism – exactly the opposite of what the US is doing.
I agree that MPS is way too big and needs to be broken up. As for the accountability of choice schools you’ll be interested to know:
Academics
Students take the same tests as public school students. (In the most rigorous study ever conducted of a choice program, independent scholars found that Milwaukee choice students did as well or better than MPS students on such tests.)
Schools must adopt academic standards in mathematics, science, reading and writing, geography, and history.
Schools must adopt criteria for granting a high school diploma. (The independent study of the Milwaukee program found that students in the choice program graduated at higher rates than did MPS students.)
Accreditation
Schools must be accredited by the Wisconsin North Central Association, the Wisconsin Religious and Independent Schools Accreditation, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, or the Archdiocese or diocese in which the school is located. (MPS is not required to meet accreditation standards.)
Student Admissions
Private schools must accept pupils on a random basis (a practice neither required nor followed in many MPS schools).
Health, Safety, and Administration
Schools in choice programs provide the Department of Public Instruction with:
A certificate of compliance with health and safety codes.
Evidence of financial viability, consistent with extensive DPI rules. (Imagine MPS trying to comply before Act 10).
Proof that the school has participated in a fiscal management training program approved by DPI.
A budget showing anticipated enrollments, estimated revenues and costs, and a schedule of monthly cash flow requirements.
Schools also must:
Provide an independent audit showing compliance with fiscal and internal controls required by DPI.
Comply with extensive insurance and fidelity bond requirements specified by statute and by DPI.
Provide a written risk management and insurance evaluation by a risk or insurance consultant.
Provide an independent audit verification of enrollments reported to the state.
Yet you believe that throwing YOUR money at for-profit charter schools while cutting funding for the SM school districts is a viable option? Please explain how school choice and vouchers (Jesse Rodriguez’s main issue) is relevant to the residents of Oak Creek, SM, and a sliver of Franklin (where Jesse Rodriguez lives)…
It’s not MY or YOUR money – it’s taxpayer money and comes out of state aid that is based on the number of students being educated no matter where. It’s not like government-run schools get a fixed amount and then we pay added amounts for voucher/charter students. Taxpayers actually save money because the average cost is $4000 -$7000 less per year to educate a student in a non-government school. This is a good thing no matter what community you live in. Competition is a good thing and gives parents options they did not have previously if they could not afford it.
Not sure why you make a point of the “sliver of Franklin” that Rodriguez lives in when Coppola moved to SM literally weeks before becoming a candidate wanting to represent us.
Well, since I am a healthcare professional that has worked with special needs children and adults for nearly twenty years I can tell you with authority, they are a terribly underserved population. Once individuals with special needs age out of the public school systems, these individuals often go on really long waiting lists, up to 7 years in our state for services for day programs, vocational programs and such. All because the charitable programs as you suggest are so back logged, don’t have enough money to go around and because the government only has so many slots they will fund.
We could go back about 100 years and build communities for individuals with special needs and then the schools will be nice and cheap. It is such a misconception that the charities have an unlimited pot of money to take care of the underserved and the individuals that work for them do it out of the goodness of their heart.
Charities years ago had unlimited religious life that devoted their time to taking care of the underserved. People are not beating down the doors to answer the call of religious life and now people are in paid positions providing this care and education.
Oh yeah, I’m sure someone will take care of these people.
The reason charities don’t have enough money to go around is that money that could be given to charities by individuals is going to ever-higher (except in WI) taxes for highly-questionable government “programs”.
If you can show me data, raw numbers proving this. I certainly will believe it. Until then, I will believe people are selfish.
To say the role of outside money in politics needs to change so elections can’t be “bought” is a bit like saying we need to take away forks and spoons from people to control obesity. You are identifying the symptoms instead of addressing the underlying problem which is voter apathy. Having special interest groups spend money on candidates that share their views does not buy anyone extra votes. Hence there is nobody buying elections. Also, as it is very easy to find who’s contributing money to which candidates, there is nothing being hidden.
Except for a small minority, most voters make their decisions based on 30-second sound bites which, in most cases, only tell half the story. Voters need to spend a little time researching the candidates themselves (which doesn’t take that much time these days) so they can make an informed decision. If you don’t like what a given candidates stands for, then don’t vote for him or her. Unfortunately, many people know more about the private lives of who got voted off Dancing with the Stars and X-Factor than they do about candidates who will ultimately have an effect on their lives!
It is interesting that nothing was mentioned of the Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Coppola, abruptly resigning from the board of the Social Development Commission five months after being elected representing a district that does not fall within the boundaries of this state assembly district. She is obviously moving into this district in order to run for the seat. This is something the Democrats are trying hard to keep quiet. I find this to be a lot more underhanded than who’s funding a candidate. All the same, it is legal and she has the right to do it. Again, it’s all about voters understanding who they’re voting for.
sm lover:
Click to access 2007-012.pdf
http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/hhs/welfare-spending
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/public-policy/federal/preserving-the-charitable-giving-incentive
http://www.capitalisminstitute.org/private-charity-infographic/
http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-shortcomings-of-government-charity#axzz2j1iSmpo7
Thanks for the links Randy, they are interesting, but four of five are from conservative groups. The bias that would come from that does not make them truly credible as they are following party rhetoric. I am willing to consider other views, but most of the information on the sites are anecdotal, not showing evidence or data. When data was mentioned, it was not referenced as to how they received it.
What I was really looking for was data showing that it might work in other states where taxes are differently structured or have lower rates than our state. Do people, when push comes to shove give at higher rates when taxed less.
I just don’t believe it happens.
Well then, show me your facts proving your point. I’ve done my research. I think that “conservative” groups actually spend the time trying to figure out what’s happening and why while “liberal” groups tend to – not always – make decisions based on emotion and a need to do something about a perceived problem without considering the ramifications.
Randy, true research views data without passion. I believe when you look at on political sides research it will always show emotion, conservative or liberal. If true dispassionate data is desired, one needs to utilize research that is not from a liberal or conservative think tank and provides sources for their data rather than spewing numbers. I could easily make a blog, like you too, make up numbers and we could gain readership, people share them on social media and it will begin to spread. Just because things appear on the internet does not always make them true. I am a liberal, and I hate, really hate when people feel the need to state that people that are like me are emotional. I am one of the most even, balanced, hard working people you would want to meet.
So, you’re saying the St. Louis Fed makes up numbers? I’m not a big fan of government statistics, as they can be “massaged” to fit an agenda, but at least you can confirm or deny them.
I don’t think anybody regards The National Council of Nonprofits as a “conservative think-tank”.
I notice you still do not supply anything to back up your claism.
I believe that SM should welcome new residents, especially ones who are engaged, willing, and eager to run for public office. Moving is NOT illegal. “Underhanded”, REALLY?? You are more offended that a young woman moved to SM than that fact that a national, one-issue PAC, like AFC mostly single-handedly funds Rodriguez’s campaign? I’m still waiting to for an answer to how the issue of school choice and vouchers is relevant to our district with such strong schools…
By the way, I am encouraged that both candidates are young women, a demographic that needs more representation.
I guess you missed: “Taxpayers actually save money because the average cost is $4000 -$7000 less per year to educate a student in a non-government school. This is a good thing no matter what community you live in.”
the news today is that 79 percent of voucher students were never in public schools so only 21 percent of voucher money is going to former public school children and that means we are paying for kids to go to private schools who would already be in those private schools how does that save taxpayers money. It only saves parents of private schools money out of their pockets.
Would like to see the source of the “79%” report.
Mark:
Since you apparently only read a portion of my post, I’ll restate what you didn’t read. I never said it was illegal to move into a district to run for office in that district. In fact, I specifically stated that it was legal and that she had the right to do it. I do believe it’s underhanded and that’s my opinion. You are certainly entitled to your opinion that her moving into this district at exactly the time Honadel announced his resignation is just a coincidence (although if you truly believe that, I have a bridge I’d like to sell you).
Regarding contributions made to Rodriguez’s campaign, I’m still waiting to hear how these contributions result in “buying” elections. It’s still one vote per person. Contributing to a campaign does not buy someone extra votes. I’ve contributed to campaigns in the past and still only got to vote once. Nothing has been hidden as to who contributed to her campaign. The real issue is that a voter needs to be informed before voting. As I stated previously, if a voter doesn’t agree with a candidate’s views, don’t vote for him or her. Also, if you don’t see the relevance of the issue of school choice in this district, you should have no problem if others do and want to contribute money to a candidate as a result. If the school system is that strong (and I believe it is strong), then I would think you’d be in favor of this issue as parents should be lining up their children to attend if Choice was expanded resulting in more state money coming into the district. Since this issue does seem to bother you, I can only conclude that you want to keep the opposing side from exercising their freedom of speech because you fear your argument is not as strong as you want others to believe.
So this is the type of person you want moving in to SM:
http://wisconsinelectionwatch.com/10109/elizabeth-coppola-used-alverno-college-address-sign-walker-recall-petition/
She’s fundraising in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood and is endorsed by Grassroots North Shore – hardly future constituents.
Isn’t that special. Thanks for posting the link Randy!
Not a problem. Glad to pick up the slack where the lamestream media fail.
Chris H:
You make some valid points. Fact: AFC gave over $45,000 to Rodriguez, and yet, cannot vote in this election. The point you made about voters listening to 30 second sound bites and accepting the (often incorrect) assertion is spot on. I agree with you completely. I would be surprised if my $25.00 contribution would cover that ad. AFC’s sure does.
See you on Election Day, all of them.
After it’s all said and done let’s see how much union and out of state money goes to Coppola.
either way outside money may not buy elections but they do buy special interests from either side of the aisle either gop or dem to get special consideration for certain legislation down the road.
Never said it didn’t.