Merrifield Returns to Chair, Dems Still Reel in Union Cash

Over at the new Face the State is a story about the ascension of State Rep. Mike Merrifield back to the chair of the House Education Committee, after last year’s controversy and resignation:

Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, quietly resumed his post at the helm of the House Education Committee on Monday more than nine months after his resignation over a well-publicized email that condemned school choice supporters to a “special place in hell.”

Of course, if you’ve been reading Denise at Colorado Charters or Mr. Bob at The Daily Blogster, you would already be aware of this un-parent-friendly political event in our fair state.

More from Face the State:

Political consultant Katy Atkinson, a consultant to moderate and conservative political causes, said top Democrats may have perceived that they had little reason to replace Merrifield with a legislator more open to supporting charters and other parent-friendly education options. “The Democratic leadership is not that concerned in particular about their standing in the school choice community,” she said. “They’re more concerned about all the money they get from the [Colorado Education Association].”

Colorado’s Democrat candidates received nearly $280,000 in direct teachers union contributions in 2006, compared to just over $20,000 for Republicans. According to Colorado League of Charter Schools Executive Director Jim Griffin, Democrats did little to soften their reputation as the anti-school choice party after Merrifield stepped down from his post last Spring. Merrifield was replaced by another union-funded legislator, Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton, who temporarily assumed the chair. “I never viewed having one or the other in charge as a particularly big deal,” he said.

Well put. Party trumps person.