To: Americans for Prosperity NC and NC Civitas
Lies Won't Bring Back Teacher Jobs
Some people think that money can buy you the truth. Americans for Prosperity and Civitas apparently think that nearly half a million dollars in TV ads can convince North Carolinians that the state budget passed by lawmakers in 2011 “protected teachers” while slashing 28 percent or $459 million from public school funding.
The facts say otherwise and we know that so far 915 teacher jobs and 2,042 teacher assistant jobs have been lost because of the budget passed by lawmakers in 2011. Unfortunately, lies aren’t going to bring those jobs back.
What’s more, that same state budget also cut taxes for wealthy individuals and corporations to the tune of $200 million. Those aren’t real solutions, those are grossly misplaced priorities. We urge Americans for Prosperity and Civitas to stop their lies and start respecting North Carolina’s hard-working educators and families.
The facts say otherwise and we know that so far 915 teacher jobs and 2,042 teacher assistant jobs have been lost because of the budget passed by lawmakers in 2011. Unfortunately, lies aren’t going to bring those jobs back.
What’s more, that same state budget also cut taxes for wealthy individuals and corporations to the tune of $200 million. Those aren’t real solutions, those are grossly misplaced priorities. We urge Americans for Prosperity and Civitas to stop their lies and start respecting North Carolina’s hard-working educators and families.
Why is this important?
On March 15, Americans for Prosperity and Civitas launched a costly PR campaign to distort the true impact of the 2011-2012 North Carolina state budget on our children and families. They made a $475,000 TV ad buy in major media markets, claiming that lawmakers somehow “protected teachers” by cutting funding for K-12 schools by $459 million dollars. What’s worse is they think you’ll believe them.
But their misleading math simply doesn’t add up. No matter how they spin it, fewer education dollars ≠ more teachers. In fact, data from the NC Department of Public Instruction shows that so far 915 teacher jobs and 2,042 teaching assistant jobs have been lost due to budget cuts made by the legislature in 2011. That’s not protecting educators, it’s attacking them.
What’s more, the TV ad fails to mention that lawmakers cut taxes for wealthy individuals and corporations to the tune of $200 million in the same state budget.
Please sign this petition to tell Americans for Prosperity and Civitas to stop spreading their lies and worse, insulting the thousands of educators who’ve lost their jobs and everyday working families.
But their misleading math simply doesn’t add up. No matter how they spin it, fewer education dollars ≠ more teachers. In fact, data from the NC Department of Public Instruction shows that so far 915 teacher jobs and 2,042 teaching assistant jobs have been lost due to budget cuts made by the legislature in 2011. That’s not protecting educators, it’s attacking them.
What’s more, the TV ad fails to mention that lawmakers cut taxes for wealthy individuals and corporations to the tune of $200 million in the same state budget.
Please sign this petition to tell Americans for Prosperity and Civitas to stop spreading their lies and worse, insulting the thousands of educators who’ve lost their jobs and everyday working families.