Word: governor
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When the former governor of Alaska did arrive at the so-called “Tea Party” rally—one of a series of anti-Obama administration protests in the last year which takes its name from the Boston Tea Party—she delivered her anti-big government message behind a sea of cameras and reporters...
During an eight-day stretch, a small group of parents and children repeatedly occupied the office of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, trying to draw attention to the teacher furloughs that have closed public schools for 13 Fridays since last fall. The families did homework together, made posters for their cause and five times stayed overnight...
...furloughs, which have given Hawaii the dubious distinction of having the U.S.'s shortest school year - 163 days. The furloughs are part of Lingle's solution to a projected budget deficit of nearly $1 billion. Liam Skilling says he and other protesters felt they needed to occupy the governor's office to make a stand because so many in the state were beginning to accept the furloughs as normal. "What we're fighting for now is so simply right," Skilling says. "We're fighting for our public-school system." (See how Hawaii's budget led to furloughed kids...
Lingle initially seemed to tolerate the occupation, which began on April 7. But sheriff's deputies quickly began issuing trespassing citations to protesters. Some got multiple citations, particularly for staying on the premises after office hours. Then, during a press conference at her office on Wednesday, April 14, the governor ignored questions from parents and warned that anyone who had already been cited twice would be arrested. Later that night, two people were taken into custody. The following day, two more were handcuffed and led away. (See the top 10 things you didn't know about Hawaii...
...program began last October. There are four more Friday closures planned before the school year ends in May. "While we're disappointed, we take away a victory - that the eyes of the world were focused on the failure of furloughs," says protester Clare Hanusz. "We're disgusted with the governor and her leadership, and we'll be focusing our efforts elsewhere. That doesn't mean we won't come back. Our resolve is strengthened...