* This is pretty big news. From a press release…
The Illinois Education Association’s political action committee, IPACE, the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education, and the National Education Association’s political action committee, the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, today endorsed the reelection of United States Representative Rodney Davis.
“Congressman Rodney Davis has the right values and vision to continue to speak up in Congress for educators and students,” said Cinda Klickna, president of the Illinois Education Association. “As a lawmaker who puts Illinoisans first, he understands the pressing issues facing our schools. He knows the important role education plays in preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow so that America can compete in the global marketplace. We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Davis in Washington.”
“Representative Rodney Davis shares our values and the values of the working families of Illinois’ 13th Congressional District,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “A proud product of Illinois’ public schools, he is a relentless advocate for students and educators and understands that the road to economic prosperity and security starts in our nation’s public schools. He’s a champion of working families, and if reelected, he will continue to work hard to make our economy work for all of us. That’s why we are proud to endorse Rep. Davis’ reelection to Congress.”
That’s a big blow to Democrat Ann Callis’ campaign. Big.
…Adding… Callis was previous endorsed by the IFT.
- Raising Kane - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:08 am:
Good for Rodney!!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:08 am:
Good on Rodney, good on his Crew and Staff.
Will be interested to see if Callis Crew comments.
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:09 am:
This strikes me as a “hurry up and jump on the winning bandwagon before it’s too late” more than a “we’re on board because he’ll support us 110%” type of endorsement…which signals very bad news for Callis and what the polls may be showing.
- walker - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:10 am:
Not especially surprised. When this union has a close call, they often go Republican. Kudos to Davis to have earned their support while in office.
- joan - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:12 am:
This just proves what we’ve been saying all along… RINO Rodney is going to sell out Republican values just to keep his job just like he’s sold out Champaign.
We should have Erika in Congress, not this career hack.
- The Truth - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:14 am:
Callis will be ok….. She’ll be running for that Supreme Court seat that should be opening up in the next couple years.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:19 am:
- joan -,
Bitter does not look good on you.
You think this endorsement will hurt Rodney? If Erika won, she would have wanted it too in that District.
“R _ _ _”? Nope.
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:27 am:
FYI–I participated in the 13th district IEA recommendation process back in June. We heard from both candidates including Callas. Davis was clearly well prepared to discuss the issues that we had. Callas was not prepared and was a disappointment.
The recommendation was approved by the IEA IPACE and then sent to NEA for their action.
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:32 am:
==just like he’s sold out Champaign.==
(Rolling eyes) Ah, you must be one of the “This is Champaign’s district!” Crowd. You may not have gotten the memo, but the district boundaries are drastically different than your the on your pal Tim Johnson (you know, the one who ACTUALLY left Champaign hanging by quitting). This is Central Illinois’, which Rodney resides smack dab in the middle of and has been all over the last few years representing the ENTIRE district. You want Champaign to be the main concern of an elected official, run someone decent for mayor.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:32 am:
They got it right. By a mile.
- anon - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:37 am:
IEA follows the power and the polls–usually bet on the come..what did they do in legislative races–bet most of SB1 yes votes got endorsements too.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:37 am:
Nearly Normal points out that quality prep work does work.
- LincolnLounger - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 11:45 am:
What is poor, bitter joan going to do when Davis wins and puts this seat out of serious play until new maps are drawn?
Maybe joan and the Champaign County crew could do something helpful to elect Kristin Williamson over her socialist (really!) opponent or even elect a GOP county board instead of the incessant whining.
- Gus - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:10 pm:
Ditto Lincoln Lounger! Tired of the head in the sand Champaign County Republicans.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:23 pm:
Go away, Joan. The Champaign County Board was GOP-controlled for over a century until your hero and his crew started stirring the pot in county politics.
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:36 pm:
==Go away, Joan.==
I almost hope she doesn’t go away, and continues to show just how weird that Champaign County crew is, even to this day somehow believing they’re entitled to own this office…despite being soundly defeated every time since TJ stepped down and the new district has been in play.
- Team Sleep - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:41 pm:
NN hit the nail on the head. Editorial boards and PAC/association boards grate at officials and candidates who are ill-prepared. The IEA/NEA endorsement is huge in that district. To be that unprepared looks poorly on the candidate, her staff and the DCCC (who should be providing above-ancillary assistance to Judge Callis).
- Filmmaker Professor - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:43 pm:
Can the IEA name one, single, specific thing that Davis has done for education in his two years in Congress? All they do is blather on and on about “values”. What values? Can they explain how destroying Obamacare is consistent with their values?
- Anonymoiis - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:49 pm:
==Can the IEA name one, single, specific thing that Davis has done for education in his two years in Congress? ==
Like I said above, it’s likely less about true policy than just about backing the winner. He was pretty vocal in calling out the food requirements, which a lot of school districts agreed with him on, but I don’t know what the I/NEA’s position was on that
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:53 pm:
===Can the IEA name one, single, specific thing that Davis has done for education in his two years in Congress? ===
From the rest of the press release…
===Representative Rodney Davis was raised in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District and is a product of local public schools. Rep. Davis understands the importance of strong, local public schools which is why his three children attend public schools as well. In Washington, Rep. Davis introduced legislation to bring Social Security fairness to public employees by repealing the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. He is a strong advocate for investments in transportation, energy, education and research and is working hard for all middle-class families.===
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
- Filmmaker Professor -,
As my professors would say to students;
“Did you READ the material?”
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 1:13 pm:
Educators from the IEA locals in his area talked about how well they were able to work with Cong. Davis on the issues discussed in the press release. Illinois members of the NEA Board of Directors meet with the members of the Illinois delegation when they go to DC for board meetings.
Rep Davis was not recommended in 2012 but he still worked with the association on the issues discussed in the press release. He reached out and contacted local educators for their opinions on education policy.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 1:38 pm:
If I’ve learned one thing since Tim Johnson resigned, there are some folks in Champaign who have a really strong sense of entitlement.
- Apocalypse Now - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 1:48 pm:
=This just proves what we’ve been saying all along… RINO Rodney is going to sell out Republican values just to keep his job just like he’s sold out Champaign.
We should have Erika in Congress, not this career hack=
Where is Erika? She seems to have disappeared just like she did, after during the last election. Erika needs to understand and learn helping other Republicans get elected builds good will for any future runs for office. Erika seems to feel a strong sense of entitlement, rather than a strong sense of working for candidates.
- A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 1:56 pm:
IPACE doing their best to balance the books a little. Stickin’ their necks way out there in this one.
- cynical - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
Of course Near Normal is right IEA supports the people that support education including Tim Johnson so I’m not sure why it would be a problem for Rodney to support education, the primary is over.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 2:42 pm:
I’m happy to see a union prove that they are not blind lemmings who automatically favor one party over the other and consider candidates outside the party spin.
Unions have been portrayed for too long in this manner and I hope we will be seeing that coming to an end.
- Gene Debs - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 4:08 pm:
He’s far too conservative. Look at his record.
- cal city crew - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 5:24 pm:
No surprise here. They seem to go w/ incumbent in the Congressional races (i.e. Bob Dold 2012) - especially in close races.
- Madison - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 6:57 pm:
And the winner is…
- Filmmaker Professor - Tuesday, Aug 5, 14 @ 9:38 pm:
Ok, so there it it. “In Washington, Rep. Davis introduced legislation to bring Social Security fairness to public employees by repealing the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision.” I guess that was the defining issue impacting public education. Silly me.
Oswego - I couldn’t find the Cliff Notes