A reader recommends the two videos below, which were made during the debate about the New York state budget. Assemblyman Jim Tedesco, a Republican, spoke out against the anti-teacher, anti-public education bill devised by Governor Cuomo. In the second video, he dares the Governor to take the fifth grade math test! Mr. Tedesco has served in the New York State Assembly since 1983. In the legislative chamber, he stands out because he has a graduate degree in special education, was a teacher and a guidance counselor. For his defense of a noble profession and common sense, he joins the honor roll of this blog.
New York is circling the drain. But this guy belongs on the honor roll! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhTwcqP4xjE&feature=youtu.be Jim Tedesco. Republican and an ex teacher. He shouldn’t have said he was an ex educator, like saying I used to work at Enron. After this he dared the Governor to take the 5th grade exam.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2tXbPzXcPQ&feature=youtu.be
The second video is more entertaining than the first.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Even though I’m not in his district, Assemblyman Tedisco has always kindly responded to my emails. He is also sponsoring The Common Core Parental Refusal Act which would, among other things, require schools to notify parents of their right to opt-out of tests.
http://www.refusecommoncore.com
Thank you, Assemblyman Tedisco for your support and for voting NO on this budget!
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I would add Republican assemblymen Peter Lopez and Steve McLaughlin to the list.
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And the Assembly Minority Leader, Brian Kolb.
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Listening to Nolan is embarrassing. Yikes.
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Let the governor take the 5th grade exam and he will probably want to “take the Fifth” A in amendment out of embarrassment!
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Assemblyman Tedisco, thank you for standing so boldly and courageously for children. Your common sense and intelligence shine through in both of these speeches! Assemblyman Dean Murray( from Long Island) I thank you too, for your courage in voting no and all your efforts in standing up for the parents, teachers, and children in your district.
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WOW, and a Republican too.
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Nearly all of the Assembly Republicans voted against the bill.
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And while we’re at it, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco also spoke out about the tax break for yacht buyers!
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Interestingly, it was only a republican state representative who spoke up for a bill that would have prevented Chris Barbic and the Achievement School District from extending their purview by turning middle schools they take over into high schools.
So, luckily, decency doesn’t always stop at political boundaries. Unfortunately, the same can be said about indecency.
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In the first video, Nolan, the woman in purple, just confirms the stereotype that if a politician is incorrect and cannot mount a reasonable defense then she just talks endlessly. Do they teach this skill in some kind of course on politics?
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You go, Assemblyman Tedisco! Thank you for your common SENSE in the face of Common Core.
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