By Collin Roth

Just in case you still thought the effort to defeat Governor Scott Walker was a grassroots effort, the events of the last week have removed all doubt that union bosses are calling the shots and they want Kathleen Falk because they know she will bow to their every demand.

Last week, the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) endorsed Democratic candidate for governor Kathleen Falk. Falk is one of two declared Democrats running in the recall against Governor Walker and others are still considering. But Falk earned WEACs endorsement after she pledged to union bosses that if elected, she would veto the budget unless collective bargaining rights were restored for public employees.

The revelation of Falk’s back-room “veto pledge” in conjunction with WEACs early endorsement spurred outrage from grassroots liberals and WEAC members. Democrat Senator Tim Cullen criticized the veto pledge saying “I did not think any serious candidate for governor could or should make that commitment.”

So inspired by a candidate willing to outrageously pledge to veto the budget, it now appears WEAC circumvented their own normal endorsement procedures in order to get behind Kathleen Falk. WKOW out of Madison reports that WEAC failed to even poll it’s members before handing Falk the endorsement:

The president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council said her group deviated from its past practice of polling members on election recommendations when it recommended Kathleen Falk in an expected recall election of Governor Walker…

…WEAC’s decision last week to recommend Falk before most other potential candidates have announced their intentions led to a petition drive urging WEAC to reconsider its action. Bell told 27 News WEAC’s board of directors would have to agree to suspend or reverse the recommendation, and said there is no precedent for such a move.

Bell said former Dane County executive Falk was recommended after seven potential candidates were interviewed about their policy positions.

In the past, the thousands of teachers affiliated with WEAC would be asked whether they concur with, or reject a proposed candidate recommendation. WEAC membership could also ask for a delay in making a recommendation. Bell said the process of polling membership on recommendations was also waived in connection with last summer’s state senate recall elections.

Make no mistake. The union bosses are in charge of this effort. And they are all too willing to ignore the wishes of their members to support a candidate-puppet in search of a puppet-master.