AFT Statement on Trump’s Selection of Pence as Running Mate

WASHINGTON—Statement from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten in response to the announcement of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as Donald Trump’s running mate:

“By selecting Mike Pence, Donald Trump has doubled down on an extreme right-wing agenda. Trump-Pence will be one of the most anti-worker tickets in American history, and Pence’s radical social policies will fit right in with Trump’s platform of bigotry and exclusion.

“Pence is an enemy of public education. His extreme obsession with vouchers and tax cuts for the rich starved public schools in Indiana of funding, and helped to create a privatized system of winners and losers. Budgets signed by Pence shifted money away from racially and socio-economically isolated children—kids whose futures most deeply depend on a high-quality public education.

“Rather than work with the state superintendent elected by Hoosiers—a nationally respected teacher—to improve public education, Pence did everything in his power to undermine her authority and credibility. Under Pence’s leadership, the state of Indiana received an F rating from the Network for Public Education—and he has done virtually nothing since to reverse course.

“Pence hurt Indiana’s economy just as much as he harmed public schools. His tax cuts for millionaires and corporations tipped the economic playing field against Indiana’s working people—and Indiana workers continue to fall behind as a result, their incomes stuck at 38th in the nation.

“In Mike Pence, Donald Trump has found a running mate who reflects his failed economic views. Both oppose the minimum wage, both regard unions with contempt—and both support massive tax cuts for the wealthy that would further tilt the playing field against ordinary Americans.

“Pence’s record is one of building walls. He has been one of the loudest and most outrageous opponents of a woman’s right to choose for his entire career. He was an early cheerleader for the tea party, and his so called religious freedom bill was so discriminatory against LGBTQ Americans that it caused a national outcry.

"By selecting Pence, Trump has solidified this ticket as an extreme threat to working families—and made crystal clear that this election represents a battle for the soul of our country.”