Happy Birthday, West Virginia! (Warning: lots of images!)

[Staph]

4. 2020 could get REALLY interesting.

The state legislature, in special session tonight, passed an education omnibus bill despised by every teacher in the state. The bill allows charter schools, education savings accounts, tax breaks for organizations that donate funds for student fees for attending private and parochial schools.

I have not yet seen if the House version of the bill included the state senate's draconian anti-union stance - a teacher can be fired for walking off the job, for striking, for even taking a sick day when a walkout is scheduled.

There are many more teachers, bus drivers and school personnel than coal miners in West Virginia. If you have paid attention to national news over the last year or so, the West Virginia teachers' strike has inspired teachers' groups across the country. There are about 20,000 teachers in the state; thousands drove to the state capitol to lobby, to watch the legislature, and to make their voices heard. There were striking teachers picketing in every single one of the 55 counties.

Local blogs and other online groups are blowing up tonight. The election of 2020, especially the election for the state house and senate, could be a very big surprise for those who think that the state is full of southern conservatives!