WHITEFISH BAY – State Senate candidate Sandy Pasch yesterday highlighted a stunning public safety contrast between herself and 20-year career politician Sen. Alberta Darling. Earlier this year, Sen. Darling shockingly voted against requiring teachers, school administrators and owners of choice schools to undergo background checks for criminal history and child abuse records. (Modifications to Choice Omnibus Motion #458; JFC: 6/2/11). The motion also would have prohibited teachers, administrators and schools that fail background checks from participating in the choice program, and would have allowed choice schools that fail these checks to be terminated from participating. Today, Pasch co-sponsored legislation authored by Rep. Tamara Grigsby that requires these background checks for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Sen. Darling's refusal to require basic background checks that would keep sex offenders and other dangerous criminals away from our children in choice schools is the latest jaw-dropping public safety failure of the 20-year career politician. Among her more outrageous decisions: As co-chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, Sen. Darling's co-wrote the disastrous budget that guts millions in shared revenue to local communities. These funds are vital to public safety, and a new report shows that because of the state budget Sen. Darling helped author, the city of Glendale – in the 8th Senate District – is considering shrinking its police force because of a $277,000 budget shortfall. As co-chair of the powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, Sen. Darling slipped into the state budget, during a late night session, the controversial measure that requires fired cops to keep receiving their taxpayer-funded paychecks. This would even apply to those officers accused of some of the most notorious crimes on the book – like domestic abuse, drunk driving and even rape. Recent analysis shows that Sen. Darling's provision would have cost taxpayers nearly $300,000 over the past few years alone. "When it comes to keeping our kids and our communities safe, Sen. Darling is failing the people of the 8th senate District," said Pasch. "I know what it takes to strengthen public safety because I've worked with hundreds of police officers during my career as a nurse and educator. I'll bring this first-hand knowledge to the Senate to pass responsible public safety policies – something we aren't getting from a 20-year career politician who is hopelessly out of touch with the people."