CTA Statement on the election

Students, Teachers and Public Schools Winners as Voters Reject Governor's Agenda and 'Special Interest' Initiatives
November 9, 2005

SACRAMENTO – Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association, released the following statement on the successful defeat of Governor Schwarzenegger's "special interest" initiatives, Propositions 74, 75 and 76:

"The real winners today are the students of California. By rejecting the governor's 'special interest' initiatives, California voters proved once again that improving public education and providing funding to our schools remains their top priority. It's time for the governor to keep his promises to our students by giving our schools the resources they need so all children can succeed. We are proud to have joined nurses, firefighters, police officers and all public employees in turning back these attacks.

"Let's hope the governor has finally heard the real will of the people and understands that his agenda was wrong for California. The people of California want real solutions that include adequate funding of our schools, protecting our minimum school funding guarantee and affordable health care for all.

"The governor owes all Californians an apology. He wasted $50 million on a special election that no one wanted, simply to give himself more power. But voters saw through his attempt to create a 'phenomenon of anger' against teachers, nurses and firefighters.

"The teachers of California will not be silenced when the future of our public schools is at risk. And in the future, no one should doubt that CTA and its 335,000 members have the will and the resources to stand up for students, our public schools and our profession."