>> TEACHERS IN OKLAHOMA CONTINUE TO PROTEST FOR NOT ONLY HIGHER
PAY FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOLS BUT
ALSO TO GET MORE FUNDING FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND THE DISTRICTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THE GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA SEEMS LIKE SHE IS GETTING A LITTLE
IRRITATED WITH THESE PROTESTS AND WE HAVE A VIDEO INTERVIEW
THAT SHE DID TO PROVE IT.
FIRST LET ME GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS ON SOME OF THE
LEGISLATIVE WHEN THE TEACHERS
HAVE GOTTEN SO FAR AND HOW THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THESE
LEGISLATIVE WINS.
KEEP IN MIND SCHOOL FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT BY A LOT SINCE 2008.
WHAT TEACHERS ARE ASKING FOR IS NOT UNREASONABLE CONSIDERING
SOME OF THE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE SHOWN US REGARDING THE
TEXTBOOKS THEY HAVE BEEN USING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.
ALSO TEACHERS WANT $10,000 RAISES.
MANY OF THEM HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RAISE IN WELL OVER
A DECADE.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO CNN ON MULTIPLE MEDIA SOURCES.
GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.
HERE IS ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT WAS POSTED ONLINE AND THEY ARE
DOING THIS THROUGH TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.
APPARENTLY ONE CLASSROOM A TEACHER COMPLAINED THAT SHE HAD
25 ANATOMY BOOKS.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD CHANGED SOME OF THE EDUCATION
REQUIREMENTS RECENTLY SO THE 25 ANATOMY BOOKS SHE HAD WERE
ENOUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME BUT THAT
IS NOT A GOOD
THING.
AND HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SOME BOOKS THAT TEACHERS AND
STUDENTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
WITH THAT SAID WHAT DID GOV.
MARY FALLON HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THESE PROTESTERS?
TAKE A LOOK.
>>TEACHERS WANT MORE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE HAVING A TEENAGE KID
THAT WANTS A BETTER CAR.
>>BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
>>IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME, THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD THAT
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE FOR OUR TEACHERS.
>> THEY ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE RICH IN THE SAME WAY, LIKE
ALL THEY WANT ANOTHER TAX CUT, THEY ARE
A BUNCH OF SPOILED
BRATS.
THEY CUT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 20%.
THE HISTORY BOOKS HAVE GEORGE W. BUSH AS PRESIDENT IN OKLAHOMA.
NOW WHEN THEY STAND UP TO FIGHT THEY SAY HERE ARE SOME CRUMBS,
FORGET ABOUT THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.
BY THE WAY IN YOUR JOB IMAGINE IF 10 YEARS IN A ROW EVERY YEAR
YOU ARE LIKE HERE WE GO, AM I GOING TO GET A BONUS OR A SALARY
INCREASE.
NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.
MEANWHILE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE
ROOF, HOUSING IS GOING UP.
EVERYTHING IS GOING UP BUT YOU NEVER GET A SALARY INCREASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY FOUGHT HARDEST FOR IS TO MAKE SURE YOU
INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS
BECAUSE EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION OF WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO CUT FROM THE BUDGET
THIS YEAR?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE EDUCATION WORSE FOR OUR
KIDS?
WHY?
THEY HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES.
REPUBLICANS HAVE THE TEMERITY TO NOW TURN AROUND AND SAY WHAT HE
WANT US TO DO?
CUT HEALTHCARE?
ONE OF YOU EVER TALK ABOUT THE
TAX CUTS?
BECAUSE YOU ALREADY CUT TAXES FOR THE RICH AND THEY ALREADY
TOOK THE MONEY HOME.
>> ONE ASPECT OF THIS STORY THAT I FEEL IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH
ATTENTION IS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
MORE FUNDING FOR THESE TEACHERS THE LAWMAKERS HAD TO AGREE TO
INCREASE TAXES FOR OIL COMPANIES.
THEY HAD NOT INCREASED TAXES SINCE THE EARLY 1990S.
YOU KNOW HOW THE OIL COMPANIES RESPONDED?
THEY SAY THESE TAXES ARE TOO HIGH.
THEY ARE WAY MORE PERSUASIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MUCH MORE
SWAY OVER THE LAWMAKERS.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DONATE TO THESE LAWMAKERS.
THAT IS THE REASON WHY TEACHERS HAVE NOT GOTTEN PAY ñ
PAY INCREASED FOR OVER A DECADE.
AND NOW THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO COMPLAIN THAT AS IF THEY ARE
THE ONES STRUGGLING.
>>BUT MARY FALLON DOESN'T CALL THEM SPOILED TEENAGERS.
BY THE WAY OIL AND GAS YOU CAN GET FROM OKLAHOMA IS THE
PROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA.
SO YOU CAN CHARGE THEM ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE.
THE REASON POLITICIANS DON'T DO THAT AND LET THEM KEEP THE
OVERWHELMING LION SHARE OF THE PROFITS IS BECAUSE THEY GET
MONEY FROM THEM.
THAT IS HOW CORRUPTION WORKS AND THIS IS HOW IT DEVASTATES YOUR
KIDS.
I LOVE THE TEACHERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF FIGHTING BACK FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.