House Minority Leader Craig Ford Blasts State Senator Shadrack McGill for Saying Teacher Pay Raises are Unbiblical

From the Office of House Minority Leader Craig Ford

Gadsden, AL – House Minority Leader Craig Ford (D-Gadsden) blasted State Senator Shadrack McGill (R-Woodville) earlier today after McGill said it would violate “a Biblical principal” to give teachers a pay raise. At the same time, McGill also argued that a 62% pay raise for legislators was necessary to prevent corruption and better reward lawmakers.

“I don’t know what Bible Shadrack McGill is reading, but it’s not the King James Version,” said Ford. “Not only is what he said wrong, it’s also blasphemous!”

Ford added that McGill had contradicted himself by arguing that a 62% pay raise was necessary to keep legislators honest, but a pay raise for teachers would attract people who were only in it for the money.

“Senator McGill said teachers who are called to teach would teach regardless of how much they get paid. So if Senator McGill thinks he needs a pay raise, does that mean God did not call him to be a senator?”

Ford also said that Republicans in the House and Senate are trying to divide teachers in order to weaken them and stamp out any opposition to the Republicans’ education agenda.

“It’s a classic divide and conquer strategy,” said Ford. “In the Senate, Phil Williams sponsors legislation to give a pay raise only to teachers with less than nine years of service. This is clearly meant to divide younger teachers from teachers with more seniority. At the same time, the Republicans are trying to get teachers angry with Dr. Bronner over the RSA’s investment returns so that the teachers will not oppose the Republicans’ legislation to replace the retirement boards with political appointees.”

Ford said that Democrats would continue to stand with teachers and oppose further cuts to schools, teachers and support personnel.

Representative Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden and the Minority Leader of the State House of Representatives.  He has served in the Alabama House of Representatives since 2000.  In 2010, Representative Ford was elected House Minority Leader by the House Democratic Caucus.