Governor initiative plan is shortsighted, will harm children, workers in the long run, says Green Party of California

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Kevin McKeown, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-393-3639,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO, Ca. (March 2, 2005) – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is promoting hurtful statewide initiatives that will ultimately harm working men and women in California to the benefit of corporate special interests, according to a statement released by the Green Party of California Wednesday.

The governor announced Tuesday he would set a special election late in 2005 to overhaul pensions, teacher pay and the way in which political districts are drawn..

"The governor doesn't seem to care about everyday Californians, those who have planned retirement with their earned pensions and teachers who are among the hardest working people in the state," said Victor Gonzalez, a Green Party candidate for the Pasadena Unified School District School Board.

Gonzalez said Schwarzenegger's plan to privatize the state's public employees $300 billion pension funds is ill-advised, and the initiative to do away with seniority for teachers, and instead reward them "merit" pay will just hurt education even more.

"Education in this state is in crisis. Teaching for a test score, and not to educate, goes against everything good teachers believe. This so-called merit system is a recipe for failure that will hurt our children and our state," added Gonzalez.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org