This year, the legislative session was all about softening the GOP tone in preparation for the 2014 Midterms. The centerpiece of legislation was a teacher pay raise that was supposed to mollify voters’ anger over the 2013 assault on public education. By that measure, the legislative session was a failure.
The GOP’s problem is as much tone as it is policies. While people certainly didn’t like cuts to public schools, universities and community colleges, they liked the snide manner of the legislative Republicans even less. Instead of framing the cuts as tough choices in difficult times, Republican legislators could barely contain their glee in making them. They jeered at teachers, blamed the poor for being poor, and belittled local officials.
And then they had the audacity to say that they actually gave more money to public schools. That claim damaged their credibility with anyone with kids in public schools. We watched class sizes grow, school supplies dwindle and extra-curricular activities disappear. If there was really more money, where did it go?
Instead of explaining the cuts, a common GOP refrain was, “The Democrats did it. Why aren’t you mad at them?” And the simple answer is, “We were. That’s why we elected you.” Now, the Republicans own it all.
No, a single raise for teachers wasn’t even a really good start toward fixing what they broke. The damage has been done. Phil Berger seemed to get it when he actually met with Moral Monday protesters but nobody else in Raleigh did much to change the perception of the GOP.
Now, polls are starting to indicate that the hubris and overreach will cost the Republicans. A new poll has Rep. Tim Moffitt (R-Buncombe) trailing challenger Brian Turner by 11 points. Even if Moffitt is able to recover, he and the GOP will be defending a seat that by all measures should be safe.
Dissatisfaction with the GOP isn’t just about policies. It’s about attitude. The Republicans made it clear that they were glad to make cuts and those at the receiving end deserved them. Well, those at the receiving end were hurt, sometimes severely, and were, more often than not, just regular folks, not fighting partisans. But more importantly, those same folks, as well as their friends and family, are also voters, a point that seems to have been lost on the GOP.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
Moffitt is like cancer. Nobody wants that crap on their deck! Moffitt such a bitchach that it ain’t funny. That boat already been sunk!
Exactly, Mick.. and don’t forget, while the rest of state employees are getting $1000 raises, teachers assistants, cafeteria workers, front office staff, etc. only get $500. Why are they lesser than? And why is it only teachers give up longevity, while all other state workers, including school administrators, get to keep theirs? And, of course, the insult to veteran teachers is loud and clear. These guys are absolute tools.
Brian Turner’s campaign is going door to door. He’s the real deal. Come help.
Agreed. That the GOP majority has a holier-than-thou and arrogant attitude toward most people that are viewed “lesser” in some way, shape or form has been demonstrated in myriad ways since 2010. And they are still in denial about their complicity in the salary issue, still want to place all blame on the Dems, and, despite the inaccuracy, earnestly want to believe their press releases that imply there’s been a 7% pay raise to all teachers
In today’s N&O’s story about how the new raise schedle has spurred confusion and uneven increases among teachers, Berger’s spokesperson said ” “The facts are legislative Democrats froze the teacher salary schedule in 2009, furloughed teachers, and failed to provide raises in their final years in the majority. In contrast, legislative Republicans have taken a number of steps to turn this trend around since assuming leadership.” Is Berger’s office that ignorant or just trying to be deliberately misleading (or both)? They took the majority in 2010 and their first action on low teacher salaries still awaits the governor’s approval in 2014. And, of course, no context is given about how the state’s 2008-2010 economy was being badly savaged by the recession, thus precluding any major budget adds.
And as you say, the GOP can’t even be graciously politic about their partial, albeit sly, “fix” on teacher pay. Berger has to again take a shot at educators and their association.”Berger challenged the NCAE assessment that rolling longevity into the salary schedule inflates the raises. ‘It’s unfortunate that instead of celebrating this historic advancement, the NCAE and others are spreading false rumors in an effort to mislead the public and our educators.'” He’d rather insult teachers than own up to the reality that many veteran teachers lost promised longevity pay in this so-called “historic” improvement.
In short, the GOP will tout “the largest teacher pay increase in the state’s history” as election day nears, and will sneer at those who do not see it that way. But any fair analysis will show (1) that many veteran teachers will not benefit much from the GOP raise formula; (2) that earned longevity pay was taken away from deserving educators (some say in spiteful action by Berger for having to relent on his goal of ending tenure); (3) that nothing was done to address the lack of funds for school supplies or textbooks; and (4) that the GOP prevented the state’s largest school districts from going to their voters in timely manner for an OK to increase sale taxes to benefit local schools. And the good bet is that the arrogant Republicans will continue to accuse those who mention these realities as being ungrateful and as “spreading false rumors.”
What does NCGOP hope to gain from the disdain and irresponsible budgeting they’ve done? I am new enough to NC that I do not know how awful the Democrats were, but I have NEVER seen anything like what NCGOP is doing to the state of North Carolina (and I come from a state known for its corruption.) The level of destruction crafted by NCGOP policies will take years to correct.