It’s no coincidence that teachers’ unions are forcing strikes only in states which the Democrat establishment has targeted for election success this November.

It started with West Virginia and has spread to Arizona, Colorado and Kentucky, all states targeted by Democrats.

Union leadership has done a good job of turning out teachers who understandably hope to seize upon the opportunity to enhance their compensation packages. But why no similar rankle in Democrat-controlled states?

Under Democrat leadership, West Virginia teacher salaries remained some of the lowest in the nation. Only when the GOP achieved a majority at the Capitol did union leadership see fit to strike and make a national spectacle of their efforts. And what did the GOP leadership do in response? It came up with a 5 percent raise and a freeze on PEIA contributions all while maintaining the budget, a feat which no Democrat legislature had been able (or willing) to tackle in its many years in control of the government.

I hope West Virginians and especially teachers and other public workers can see through the dog and pony show that the Democrat Party is putting on in these targeted states with the assistance of the teachers’ unions.

West Virginia has just embarked on a new beginning toward sensible government which is finally taking steps to lead the state towards opportunities for prosperity. It will be a sad day if these orchestrated charades have their intended effect – to trick voters into returning the ineffective leadership that failed the state for so many decades.

Stephen McElroy

Bridgeport