Teachers' Unions Unhappy With Debt Deal; Say Default Is Worse
The nation's two major teachers' unions both voiced reservations about deep cuts to government programs included the congressional agreement to raise the debt ceiling, but said the deal was necessary to avoid the even more negative economic consequences of a default.
National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel called the debate over the debt ceiling a "reckless game of political brinksmanship," but said a default would have been a catastrophe.
The NEA voiced concerns about whether a bipartisan congressional committee, created through the agreement, would protect funding for student financial aid and other education programs going forward. And Van Roekel suggested in a statement that the deal was tilted in favor of protecting wealthy Americans from tax increases—a view shared by many Democrats—and will result in government services' being slashed at the federal and state
