MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — You can count Monongalia County’s American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Sam Brunett among those not impressed with Governor Jim Justice’s partisan-tinged proclamation Tuesday.
“You’re talking about political grandstanding right prior to early voting, which is pretty obvious,” he said.
Citing an improving economic situation in West Virginia, Justice pledged $100 million as part of a permanent fix for the Public Employee’s Insurance Agency and a second round of five percent pay raises for the state’s teachers and public employees. He did it, however, while praising Republican legislators, sounding off on Democrats, and appeared to suggest the 55 United protests were more of a distraction.
“That all happened not because of the people who were rah-rahing and everything upstairs. It happened because of the good work of the Republicans. The Republicans are the ones who passed it. Your Republican governor is the one who came up with the idea of five percent,” Justice said.
Brunett was not impressed.
“During his entire speech, there wasn’t anything mentioned about how he was going to raise the revenue in order to keep these promises,” he told WAJR.
In fact, Justice said the government could pay for his pledge without raising taxes.
“The bottom line is–who’s delivering? Who’s delivering? We absolutely all believe in education. We think we should invest in education. We think as we do that and we’re doing that right now. We’re putting our money we’re our mouth is. Period. Period,” Justice said.
“Quite frankly, under our current majority, I don’t see it happening,” Brunett said. “As a matter of fact, people tend to forget what led us to the walkout in the first place.”
Justice criticized Democrats who participated in the demonstration of school personnel, which Brunett said was uncalled for.
“I don’t know how you can extend a carrot to people and then degrade them at the same time,” he said.
The AFT-WV released a full statement, which included the following:
“It’s insulting to the teachers and service personnel who courageously went on strike over stagnant wages, increasing healthcare costs and attacks on their rights for Governor Justice to demean their action, degrade their intelligence with political promises and give credit to Republicans for doing something they were forced to do.”
Brunett, similarly, gave credit to the demonstrating teachers — not Republicans — for achieving the pay raise and creation of the PEIA Task Force.
“He’s trying to minimalize the voice of teachers by doing so,” Brunett said. “We were all down there in force as 55 united from 55 different counties. And for him to belittle our voice during such a historical event is just demeaning.”
And with a Republican-dominated House and Senate filled with party members who have openly defied Gov. Justice before, Brunett said Justice’s announcement — 22 days before early voting begins — is hardly one he can consider in the voting booth.
“No, these two promises, which actually would be really difficult to fulfill, do nothing,” Brunett said.