Angie Paccione Addresses American Federation Of Teachers

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2006
Contact: James Thompson
(970) 222-6397

Angie Paccione Addresses American Federation Of Teachers

Her promise to stand up to special interests was greeted with a standing ovation.

BOSTON—Colorado State Rep. Angie Paccione, candidate for the Fourth Congressional District, today addressed 4,500 participants at the American Federation of Teachers national convention.

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of K-12 professionals, higher-ed faculty, nurses, paraprofessionals in schools, and public employees. Paccione, a former high school teacher and college education professor, became an AFT member when she first became a teacher at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado, in 1987.

In her speech to the delegation, Paccione criticized the current leadership in Washington, D.C., for cutting after-school programs, student loan funding, special education, nursing programs, and higher-ed programs. Receiving overwhelming applause throughout her speech, Paccione called for a change in leadership, and she reaffirmed her dedication to improving America's educational system.

"This administration has made severe cuts to education, especially after-school programs that rescue kids from the streets," Paccione said. "It's time for change in America."

Paccione pointed out how she was able to pass legislation on a number of fronts, including legislation aiding paraprofessionals, increasing the number of children going to preschool, and increasing funding for special education. Among other accomplishments, Paccione also worked to increase resources to address the nursing shortage, introduced legislation to provide healthcare benefits to adjunct professors, and helped make improvements to state implementation of No Child Left Behind.

"No Child Left Behind is a hollow sound bite when you don't fund it," Paccione said.

Paccione told the audience that when her opponent Marilyn Musgrave—who has been on the House Education Committee for her entire four years in office—was asked by a newspaper what she had done for education, her response was, "I'm not thinking of anything on the federal level right now. Sorry."

"Marilyn Musgrave sits at the seat of power and remains silent on education," Paccione told the crowd. Instead of leading the way on education, Musgrave caters to and caves in to special interests, she said.

"I'll bring real, principled leadership to Congress for a change," she added, and her speech culminated in a standing ovation.

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