Brecheen Blasts $80K Negative Campaign Buy From Stand For Children

PRO COMMON CORE GROUP PUTS $80K IN RACE AGAINST SENATOR BRECHEEN

October 13, 2014

The national pro-Common Core group, Stand for Children, with headquarters in Chicago and Boston, is targeting State Senator Josh Brecheen with thousands of dollars worth of media ads designed to defeat Brecheen in his bid for re-election. According to its own website, Stand for Children’s mission is to promote and implement Common Core in schools across the country. Brecheen Senate-authored HB3399, the first true repeal of Common C‎ore in America, standing directing against Stand For Children’s agenda.

“The Oklahomans I represent in Senate District 6 do not want federal control in any shape or form, especially when it comes to how and what our children are taught in the classroom,” says Josh Brecheen. “Any voter who sees television advertisements or hears radio advertisements that are paid for by Stand for Children, needs to recognize this group for what it is – a special interest group that wants Common Core, not a group that is standing up for our children’s best interest.”

According to public records, Stand for Children has spent at least $80,000 on radio and TV airtime in the Senate District 6 race. But that may be just the tip of the iceberg as that figure does not include production costs, mailers and phone calls which could also be utilized.

The group’s Oklahoma director, Amber England, is a former Democratic operative who lobbied heavily in support of Common Core throughout the 2013 legislative session.

When Senator Brecheen’s bill to repeal Common Core became law, England released a statement saying, “Today’s decision by Governor Mary Fallin to sign HB3399 is not only disappointing, it’s dangerous… we hold out hope the courts will find the law to be unconstitutional.”

Opponents of Common Core worry, if Josh Brecheen does not return to the Senate, the legislature would be without his strong voice in ensuring the new academic standards, as directed by the law Brecheen authored, are absolutely free of all ties to Common Core.

“Senator Josh Brecheen broke ranks with some in his own party, lobbyists and special interests,” says Julia Seay, one of the leaders who defeated Common Core. “He stood in the face of the ‘Almighty’ Chamber of Commerce and got the bill moving that repealed Common Core in Oklahoma. We would not have had our victory if it weren’t for Josh’s courage and statesmanship.”

Senator Brecheen says he is unfazed by ‎this national media buy.

“I’ve always stood strong for what is right and best for my district and the state, regardless of special interests. The voice of Oklahomans should be adhered to, not the dollars of an out-of-state special interest group advancing Obama’s vision for education reform,” says Brecheen.

For more information on State Senator Josh Brecheen’s campaign, please visit www.BrecheenForSenate.com.