Republicans seek to hit Democrats as schools reopen

Republicans are hitting Democrats on reopening schools, believing it will be a powerful wedge issue in the midterm election and offering the GOP a path to victory for suburban voters.

Explosive battles are fought in Democratic-led cities and states over how quickly public schools should reopen and Republicans are grappling with divisions between elected officials and teacher unions.

The GOP’s campaign arms in the House and Senate monitor union donations to Democratic members and accuse them of putting special interests ahead of student education.

In a speech this week, the Senate Minority Leader Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Memo: Bad Jobs Report Boosts Biden Stimulus Case OVERNIGHT ENERGY: DOJ Lets Companies Pay Again for Environmental Projects to Reduce Fines | House Democrats reintroduce green energy tax package In Marjorie Taylor Greene, a glimpse into the future READ MORE (R-Ky.) Insulted what he described as a Democratic “goal shift,” pointing to districts that refuse to return to in-person learning until all teachers have been vaccinated .

GOP members from the House and Senate have introduced resolutions to restrict government funds for public schools that have not reopened.

“There couldn’t be a more powerful problem out there right now and it fits a need of the Republican Party perfectly,” said a GOP Senate aide. “A lot of Republicans lost last year because suburban voters were pushed back by Trump. If there is one thing that commuters care about right now, it is getting kids back to school and the growing opinion is that the Democratic Party is so linked to teachers’ unions that they are the ones who prevent children from learning.

Republicans hope the issue will help them break through even in the blue states.

Former mayor of San Diego Kevin faulconerKevin FaulconerCalifornia Governor Faces recall attempt The Hill’s Morning Report – Brought to you by Facebook – Democrats chart course to pass Biden’s COVID-19 relief plan Former San Diego mayor candidate for California governor MORE (R), who could run for Governor of California if Gov. Gavin NewsomGavin NewsomBiden’s Budget Breaks Bank The Hill’s Morning Report – Featured by Facebook – Cheney Retains Leadership Position; Dems punishes governor of Greene, California over recall attempt MORE (D) is recalled, Newsom hammered during a press conference he conducted this week in front of two schools – a private school that was open and a public school that was closed.

Republican businessman Pete Snyder is also sending a message to reopen schools as he searches for the governor’s mansion in Virginia, where some officials have made headlines saying schools should not reopen until all students are not vaccinated.

Union leaders are furious at the allegations, accusing Republicans of the scapegoat for teachers who want a return to normalcy but seek to ensure the health of educators and students.

The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have started to decline in recent weeks as vaccine rollout begins, but the safety of adult educators is raising serious concerns as new strains of the virus emerge.

“Republicans are using this crisis to scapegoat teachers, who are working across the country to reopen schools for kids who need them most and to make sure it’s safe,” said Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers.

Yet divisions between mayors and governors pushing to reopen now, and unions and school districts seeking additional guarantees, have spilled over into public opinion in Democratic strongholds.

In Chicago, the clash between the city and teachers turned ugly after an agreement to reopen schools was abruptly canceled. Teachers are considering strike to avoid returning to classrooms as Chicago public schools threaten to exclude them from distant classrooms.

Democratic mayor Lori LightfootLori Lightfoot Chicago mayor hits teachers ‘union: after’ 80 plus meetings ‘we’re off track’, Chicago teachers continue to teach remotely amid strike threats Chicago schools to resume in-person learning next week angry at teacher unions, claiming the city had invested more than $ 100 million in new security protocols before the agreed return.

“We had three weeks to safely implement our plan until the teachers’ union blew it up,” Lightfoot told MSNBC this week.

In California, Newsom is frustrated with requests from some teachers to get vaccinated before schools reopen.

Teachers in many states are at or near the line for immunizations, but the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyCDC Says Schools Safe, But Biden Continues to Ignore Science, Doctors The Hill’s Morning Report – Featured by Facebook – Cheney Keeps Leader; Dems Punishes Greene Overnight Health Care: Biden Pledges 400 Checks, But Open To Eligibility Limits | CDC Director: Vaccination of teachers ‘not a prerequisite’ for reopening a safe school | Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations down MORE said this week that vaccination should not be a prerequisite for teachers to return to class.

The city of San Francisco made the dramatic decision to sue its school district for forcing doors open as teachers’ unions demanded vaccinations before educators return.

“If everyone is to be vaccinated, we might as well be telling people the truth – there will be no in-person teaching in the state of California,” Newsom said.

Weingarten said the tensions that arose were due to the personal nature of the issue and the enormous pressure to reopen in the right way so that lives are not in danger and schools are not in a position of duty. close again in a few months.

“The tension you see is due to the fact that there is a real need to address the learning challenges of children and the trauma of social isolation,” she said. “I think these mayors are concerned about what this means in the long term for children, and so are we, which is why we have been fighting for months to get the resources and guarantees we need to make this right.

Nearly two-thirds of public schools have been in operation for practically a year, according to Burbio data.

A growing body of evidence suggests that virtual learning is not an adequate replacement for in-person teaching. As students fall behind academically, delinquency rates soar and children suffer emotional trauma from isolation.

The CDC has published research in recent weeks suggesting that it’s safe to reopen schools if people wear masks and socially distance themselves from each other.

Democrats insist they are united behind President Biden’s plan to return to in-person learning once Congress passes the next COVID-19 relief cycle, which includes $ 130 billion in funding for testing, protective equipment, ventilation and other guarantees.

The Biden administration sought to criticize the CDC’s report on schools being low transmission areas, saying the data came from rural areas. And they sidestepped Walensky’s remarks about teachers not needing vaccines to return, saying the White House is still waiting for the CDC to produce a full plan to reopen the school.

Pollsters say the issue is notoriously difficult to study because most people want schools to reopen safely, but there is disagreement over what is considered safe.

An Axios-Ipsos survey this week found that many Americans are increasingly comfortable with the reopening of schools. Fifty-nine percent said they had some level of concern about safety, up from 74 percent in August. Only 33% are extremely concerned, compared to 50%.

“Suburban moms and administration agree to reopen safely,” Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said. “Some mayors and some unions may not agree on the details, but they all want to open safely, so the Republicans are just trying to create divisions over an issue we agree on.

California Democratic Agent Tyler Law dismissed criticism from the GOP, saying voters would instead punish Republicans who oppose Biden’s coronavirus relief program.

“Republicans are going to bury any Covid-related message in six feet of dung as soon as they vote against the widely supported relief bill,” Law said.

But Republicans say public opinion is moving quickly against Democrats as a groundswell of parents advocate for schools to reopen.

“Parents across the country are frustrated and want their children to go back to school, and will remember that in November 2022 it is House Democrats who put special interests ahead of child rearing,” he said. declared Camille Gallo, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee of Congress.