rob schofield, nc policy watch for the unc faculty assembly january 20, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
The assault on education:
A key strategy in the right’s effort
to remake North Carolina
Rob Schofield, NC Policy Watchfor the UNC Faculty Assembly
January 20, 2012
Who am I? What am I doing here?
Rob Schofield – Policy Director at NC Policy Watch, lawyer, lobbyist, writer, troublemaker for 25 years
NC Policy Watch – State’s leading and most prolific
progressive “think tank” Free media outlet for progressives www.ncpolicywatch.com
Policy Watch – Top priorities
Answering/exposing the right Energizing the state’s progressive
movement Dramatically increasing the quantity
and distribution of progressive messages
Winning the propaganda war (aka “the battle of ideas”)
Transforming state policymaking
The 2011 session The worst legislative session in
decades A determined and sustained assault
on public structures and solutions that featured:• A slash and burn budget • Tax cuts at the worst possible time• Dozens of regressive substantive policy
changes
A Nixon era budget Effectively cutting taxes (sales,
income corporate) $500 million in cuts to health care for
the poor (Medicaid “optional” services)
Firing thousands of educators Wrecking Smart Start and More at
Four Damaging higher education Decimating the courts, public
defenders, the environment, etc…
Repealing the 20th Century Unemployment Insurance hostage
crisis Anti-choice – so-called “Women’s
right to know” law Election restrictions (voter ID,
campaign finance, early voting) Small loans – 90% interest rates Charter schools, school vouchers Restricting community college
student loans
More… Eviscerating DENR and rulemaking So-called tort reform Repealing the Racial Justice Act Concealed weapons in parks and
restaurants The marriage discrimination
amendment The midnight assault on teachers And much more…
The assault on education Huge and painful cuts to early
childhood, K-12 and higher education Rapid, unregulated expansion of
charter schools Community college loan access
limited UNC cut by $444 million (15+%) Fewer and larger classes Teachers’ lobby in the crosshairs Large new UNC tuition hikes
The right’s extreme agenda
Undercut and erode support for all things “public”
Privatize core government services or make them “fee for service”
More sticks, fewer carrots Promote/expand corporate
personhood Promote markets as an end rather
than as merely a means of generating prosperity
Redefine “freedom”
The progressive alternative
Healthy, well-funded public structures and services
Tax modernization and reform Preserve and expand free/affordable
public education Voter-owned elections Make the market economy a tool
rather than an object of worship
Where are we now? A full-time, part-time legislature
(multiple special sessions) No holds barred An all-out public relations war
coordinated with the right-wing think tanks
The Pope Empire
Thom Tillis unplugged“What we have to do is find a way to
divide and conquer the people who are on assistance. We have to show respect for that woman who has cerebral palsy and had no choice in her condition that needs help and we should help. And we need to get those folks to look down at these people who choose to get into a condition that makes them dependent on the government.”
What happens next? More of the same Redistricting lawsuits Marriage discrimination campaign The 2012 campaign (May and
November) The short session The convention in Charlotte The election
And the long term? Battle continues North Carolina a fast-growing
“purple” state A flood of corporate money Redistricting decision critical 2012 election critical More voices needed
Keeping up
Good news and bad news Bad:
• Mainstream news media has been shrinking• Capital press corps tiny in comparison to
past• Less light on the process in many ways
Good:• Alternatives are springing up • Messy – can feel like a fire hose of info• NC Policy Watch , Budget & Tax Center
critical tools
