AFT - Teachers! - Endorse Malloy (Not Pelto)

AFT Connecticut Endorses Malloy-Wyman Ticket for Re-Election

Governor Dan Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman Receive Support of 29,000-Member Union for Respecting Workers’ Rights

Hartford, CT – Today, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Connecticut announced its endorsement of Governor Dan Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman for re-election.

“AFT’s support is a testament to the progress we are making together in education, health care and public services,” said Governor Dan Malloy. "I firmly believe that teachers, health care professionals, and all workers should have the right to collectively bargain -- for good wages and benefits, due process and a voice at work. From the picket lines to the Capitol, we’ve stood together to protect workers’ rights and that won’t change. We won’t let Connecticut go down the dangerous path that GOP governors are leading states like Wisconsin down. I want to thank AFT for their support and for their hard work, day in and day out, to move Connecticut forward.”

“I am grateful to be working with AFT as we protect Connecticut’s working families. Honoring and supporting the voice of organized labor is a big part of how we continue to empower our working families, build our economy and provide our children with the best education possible,” said Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman. “We have more work to do, but we will continue to support our educators, health care professionals, public service employees, and all Connecticut workers as we continue our state’s progress. I am honored and thankful for AFT Connecticut’s endorsement.”

AFT Connecticut is a labor federation of over 29,000 teachers and school support staff, nurses and health care workers, higher education faculty and public service workers throughout the state. According to its website, AFT Connecticut supports candidates for public office who have a strong track record of fighting for workers’ rights, working-class families and the honoring of the right to collectively bargain.

Click here to view AFT’s endorsement release: http://aftct.org/node/31306

Outrageous: Outside Forces Influencing CT Elections!!!

From Press Release...but frighteningly true!

$32k Out-of-District Campaign Expenditure
Against Leo Canty

Windsor, CT – Area Democrats from Windsor and Hartford today condemned a massive independent expenditure aimed at defeating endorsed candidate Leo Canty in the Oct. 2 Democratic primary revote in the 5th House District.

According to a filing with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, a group called GNEPSA (Greater New England Public Schools Alliance) has pumped nearly $32,000 into the special election to fund Get Out the Vote operations on behalf of Brandon McGee, Canty’s opponent in the primary. GNEPSA is tied to Students First, the Sacremento, CA-based education advocacy organization headed by Michelle Rhee that was launched by Bain and Company, Mitt Romney’s private equity firm. Much of this organization’s money, both in-state and nationally, comes from Republican sources.

CALL YOUR FRIENDS IN WINDSOR! TELL THEM TO GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW FOR LEO CANTY!!!!!!!

“I’m outraged that Mr. McGee would allow an out-of-district Republican-backed special interest group to try and buy this election,” said former Windsor Deputy Mayor and retired public school teacher Tim Curtis. “Elections are supposed to be about issues, not about money. Who will Mr. McGee fight for – the people of the 5th district or Bain Capital and other out-of-district Republican corporations?”

Another local Democrat, Vivian Cicero, expressed dismay that McGee would allow Republican Mitt Romney’s company to buy the election. Cicero is a Windsor Town Constable and a member of the Democratic Town Committee. “Brandon McGee should disavow himself from this expenditure and call on these groups to stay out of Hartford and Windsor. No Democrat should accept any form of support from Republicans working every day to defeat President Barack Obama and turn this country over completely to the super-rich and the big corporations,” Cicero said.

Windsor Town Councilor Bill Herzfeld also weighed in on the independent expenditure in the 5th District, calling it a textbook example of what’s wrong with Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that treats corporations as people and allows unrestricted funding of campaigns by groups like Students First and GNEPSA:

“I never thought our community would be an example of how Citizens United can potentially corrupt elections. It’s outrageous GNEPSA and First Student will spend more in one week than state law allows candidates to spend on the entire primary. This is anti-democracy and anti-public education. McGee’s latest flyer says he will support public education yet he is benefiting from a group that wants to disinvest in public schools. Will the real Brandon McGee please stand up?”