The recall of Scott Walker began yesterday with
awesome rallies,
huge numbers and
a rock thrown through the window of a recall supporter. It also featured Scott Walker saying that he was
focused on creating jobs.
With Wisconsin's unemployment rate rising from 7.1 percent when Walker took office to 7.8 percent today, Walker's focus on jobs hasn't worked out too well so far. However, surely that will change with the latest bill state Republicans are about to pass during the special legislative session Walker called to create jobs:
A bill launched during Walker's jobs session and nearing passage in the Legislature would repeal significant portions of the state law that requires schools to provide comprehensive, scientifically accurate, and age-appropriate sex ed. On Wednesday, the state Assembly's education committee is scheduled to consider whether it should join the Wisconsin Senate, which approved the bill on November 2, in voting for repeal. Republicans hold big majorities on the education committee and the Assembly overall, so the bill is expected to pass easily. [...]
Republicans hope to remove the part of the current law, also known as the Healthy Youth Act, that requires schools to teach about "the health benefits, side effects, and proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods" in discussion of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The repeal legislation also strikes a portion of the law that recommends schools teach about "puberty, pregnancy, parenting, body image, and gender stereotypes." Instead, the new law would require instructors to "identify the skills necessary to remain abstinent" for their students.
While this bill should succeed in creating more jobs for the producers of 16 and Pregnant, unfortunately for Wisconsin most of those jobs will be in New York City where the production company for that show is based. Wisconsinites will be stuck with the negative impacts that increases in teen pregnancy have on education, employment and poverty.
If you live in Wisconsin, please sign up to recall Scott Walker. No matter where you live, please contribute $3 to support the recall of Scott Walker.
