MMAC's narrow vision on education

Among the many interest groups lobbying Gov. Jim Doyle on budget vetoes is the Metropolitan Milwaukee Assn. of Commerce.

MMAC sent Doyle a letter on "education-related items" in the budget, including choice and charter school issues.

It's a long letter, signed by MMAC President Tim Sheehy, Board Chairman Dennis Kuester, and Robert O'Toole, chairman and CEO of A.O. Smith.

Hard to imagine, but nowhere in the letter about "education-related items" in Milwaukee does it mention that the Republican-controlled legislature slashed public school funding so drastically that Milwaukee Public Schools will lose $40-million in state aid.

Doyle may find a way to fix that, at least in part, with a line item budget veto. But MMAC didn't even ask. Public schools are not even on their radar.