TAA PAC Endorses Kloppenburg

Madison, WI — On Thursday, the Teaching Assistants’ Association Political Action Committee (TAA PAC) announced an endorsement of JoAnne Kloppenburg in her campaign to serve on the State Supreme Court.

Citing her merits as a principled, independent candidate to balance the Court, TAA PAC proudly called upon its members to cast a ballot on April 5th for Kloppeburg.  Said TAA PAC Chair Peter Rickman, a graduate and law student, “JoAnne Kloppenburg will stand up to protect the rights of all Wisconsinites and not take orders from corporate special interests.”

Taking on Scott Wallker ally David Prosser, Kloppenburg represents an impartial approach to jurisprudence that respects the rule of law and fundamental rights.  In particular, TAA PAC cited the need to have a Court that understands worker rights as critical in a functioning democracy.  Rickman said “A vote for Kloppenburg is a vote against Walker.  With Scott Walker’s extreme agenda and unprecedented power grab, it is more important now than ever to have a Supreme Court Justice who will protect our rights.”

While former Republican Assembly Speaker Prosser expresses in public his commitment to advancing the Walker agenda, Kloppenburg has made no statements pre-judging cases or siding with an ideological agenda.  Rickman added: “A vote for Prosser is a vote for Walker.  At this critical time for Wisconsin’s working families and for our basic rights, we need a Justice like JoAnne Kloppenburg who does not toe a party line nor rubber stamp any politician.  Our state cannot stand Prosser advocating for the Walker agenda on the Court.”

Backed by an unanimous vote at a TAA General Membership Meeting on March 20, 2011, ratifying the recommendation of its Political Education Committee, Rickman concluded “The stakes could not be higher nor the choice more clear.  JoAnne Kloppenburg will serve on the Court with distinction.  David Prosser simply would serve the agenda of Walker and his corporate special interest backers.”

The Teaching Assistants’ Association, AFT #3220, is the nation’s oldest graduate student worker union, representing nearly 3,000 graduate assistants at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  TAA PAC is the union’s political arm, funded by voluntary contributions of its members.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 31, 2011

For more information contact:

Peter Rickman

920.284.4710

rickman.peter@gmail.com