Despite reaching an agreement with Governor Gavin Newsom to restore funding for public schools, the California Teacher's Association (CTA) continues to air an attack ad against the governor, claiming that classrooms face "a monumental crisis" under his leadership.
The California Teacher's Association (CTA), the state's largest and most influential teachers union, is refusing to drop an attack ad against Governor Gavin Newsom despite reaching an agreement with the governor to restore funding for public schools.
The ad, which has been airing on television and social media, claims that classrooms "face a monumental crisis" under Newsom's leadership, with cuts to funding leading to larger class sizes, teacher layoffs, and a reduction in essential resources such as counselors, nurses, and special education aides.
The CTA's decision to continue airing the ad comes despite Newsom's reversal on cutting public school funding and reaching an agreement with the union on a new budget that includes additional funding for schools.
In a statement, CTA president David B. Goldberg said that the union will continue to "closely monitor any attempt to weaken the constitutional protections behind the Proposition 98 funding guarantee." Goldberg also said that the union will continue to work with Newsom and the Legislature to safeguard school funding beyond the 2024-25 budget year.
The new agreement between the governor and CTA pledges a more favorable assessment of Proposition 98, a 1988 law that guarantees a set funding amount for public schools each fiscal year. The agreement ensures that schools will receive an additional $5.5 billion in the future.
Newsom said in a statement that the agreement is "a smart and balanced policy solution that incorporates feedback from California’s educators." He said that the agreement accomplishes the administration's primary goals of no cuts to schools in the immediate and long-term future while ensuring budget neutrality.
A spokesperson for Newsom's office said that the administration has "resolved our policy differences with CTA."
However, Lance Christensen, vice president of the conservative think tank California Policy Center, told Fox News Digital that the CTA is "more interested in disinformation campaigns than serious budget discussions."
Christensen said that the CTA's attack ad is "tantamount to a temper tantrum, not honest negotiation." He said that the union is "putting Gov. Gavin Newsom on full-blast because he was trying to modestly fix a budget he nroke."
The agreement between the governor and CTA underscores the powerful union's sway in Sacramento. The CTA has been a longtime ally of Newsom, contributing $250,000 to his Yes on Prop 1 committee this year. The union also dished out $1.8 million to Newsom's anti-recall campaign two years ago.
The ad campaign is likely to continue until the new budget is passed by the Legislature. The Legislature is currently considering Newsom's revised budget, which includes the agreement with the CTA. The budget is expected to be voted on by the end of June.
