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Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, talks with schools chief Tom Torlakson, during the Senate session in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013. In the race for superintendent of education, an advocate of school reform including charters, local control and tempering union influence is squaring off against incumbent Torlakson, a former teacher.

Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press

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A one-party state like California may be tailor made to highlight sharp policy differences within the party. In the race of superintendent of education, an advocate of school reform including charters, local control and tempering union influence is squaring off against a more traditional Democrat supported by teachers' unions.

The race pits two well-funded Democrats against each other, with former charter school executive Michael Tuck challenging incumbent Tom Torlakson, a former teacher.

Tuck said in an interview with Reuters that he supports teacher unions but thinks they have "too big a seat at the table."

"He opposes rules that require teachers with the least seniority to be the first fired during layoffs, and is against granting teachers tenure after just two years on the job," Reuters reported.

"Policy experts in California say that increasingly, Democrats are supporting elements of the reform agenda," Reuters noted. "At the national level, the call to tie teacher evaluations to students' performance on standardized tests has been championed by the Democratic Obama administration, as well as leading Republicans."

The battle in California thus reflects a larger national battle pitting the Obama administration as a strong supporter of both charter schools and rigorous testing, both positions that pit him against teachers' unions.

In "Dreams of My Father," Obama offered an early signal that he would be an iconoclast on education, when he wrote of "annual budget shortfalls in the hundreds of millions; shortages of textbooks and toilet paper; a teachers union that went on strike at least once every two years; a bloated bureaucracy and an indifferent state Legislature."

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Democrat vs. Democrat in the charter school debate in California

Created: 04/29/2014 9:56 PM WHEC.com

The NBA handed down its harshest punishment possible to the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

The story has taken over the headlines in recent days after recordings of Donald Sterling making racists comments were released.

On Tuesday, the NBA handed down its punishment. The league has not only banned Donald Sterling, but he also has to pay a $2.5 million dollar fine.

News10NBC got reaction to the punishment from James Lawrence with our news partners at the Democrat and Chronicle and Unite Rochester.

James Lawrence said, We must speak out as a society that it won't be tolerated and that those who step over the line will pay a price. I think Mr. Silver as the commissioner sent the right message at the right time.

For more information about Unite Rochester and local efforts to eliminate racism, click here.

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Democrat and Chronicle's James Lawrence reacts to Donald Sterling ban

NJ Democrat gets wowed by Tampa research facility: WMNF News
Full story at wmnf.org/news.

By: Janelle Irwin

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NJ Democrat gets wowed by Tampa research facility: WMNF News - Video

Rape Victim Says Colorado Democrat Is Not Really Sorry for Her Offensive Rape Comments

By: kinza mano

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Rape Victim Says Colorado Democrat Is Not Really Sorry for Her Offensive Rape Comments - Video

BENTON HARBOR, MI Democrat and Benton Charter Township resident Bette Pierman has announced she will challenge Republican state Senator John Proos for his seat in the November election.

Pierman, a 64-year-old retired secondary public education teacher and lifetime member of the state and national education associations, said she has decided to run against Proos because she can "no longer sit on the sidelines attempting to make a difference by voting and contacting elected representatives in a state that has been heading in the wrong direction on a vast number of issues under the actions of the current legislators in Lansing."

Sen. Proos would have us believe that Michigan is turning around," Pierman said in a prepared statement announcing her decision. "However, the evidence clearly demonstrates that there has been a steady and consistent, ongoing attack on middle and lower income individuals and families in many areas: public education, the tax disparity (raising taxes on middle class taxpayers, lowering taxes on the rich), environmental protection, womens and childrens health issues, workers rights, LGBT issues, climate change, gun safety, sustainable agriculture, and many others."

Pierman goes on to say that she believes its time to replace "career politicians" who only represent special interests.

"I will represent the interests of the people of the 21s District," Pierman said. "I know what it is like to struggle to make ends meet. I know what it is like to be unemployed. I know first-hand what it is like to experience age discrimination while searching for a job."

Pierman said she would support tax breaks on the middle class to stimulate job creation and would work to reform public education through eliminating "failing" programs such as the Education Achievement Authority.

Proos, who was first elected in 2010 after serving three terms as the 79th District state Rep., announced in late February that he would seek re-election to his current post.

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Democrat Bette Pierman announces candidacy for 21st District state Senate seat