Romney remarks contradict PA GOP efforts to ban teacher strikes

Here's the latest example of Romney alienating grassroots GOP voters in PA.

PA State Representative Todd Rock is the conservative Republican behind the strike ban legislation in the PA Legislature.
Rock has been very vocal about this issue and has brought up anti-strike legislation several times.
The proposed anti-strike legislation has been popular among conservatives, particularly in the South Central PA area Rock represents.

Rock and Metcalfe Say Now Is the Time to Expel Teacher Strikes from Pennsylvania School Districts

http://www.reprock.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=11605

“Last month, Governor Tom Corbett could not have been more accurate when he singled out teacher unions as the number one reason for failing public schools in Pennsylvania,” said Rock. “There is no more perfect illustration for what the governor cited as forcing school districts ‘to focus too much on contract negotiations and too little on curriculum’ than the fact that during the 2009-10 school year, Pennsylvania once again maintained its status as the undisputed ‘Teacher Strike Capital of the United States’ with nearly 35,000 students locked out and left behind from the classroom. The fundamental purpose of the legislation we are introducing today is to restore to every Pennsylvania child the legal right to a strike-free, uninterrupted public education.”

Recognized both statewide and nationally by the Wall Street Journal, Rock’s STRIKE-FREE Education Act (House Bill 1369) would immediately outlaw teacher strikes and lockouts at the statutory level and contains several clearly defined and enforceable financial penalties, including: $5,000 individual fine, per incident for inciting a strike; striking teachers losing two days of pay, each day of an illegal strike; and the striking teachers union forfeiting its dues check-off privilege for one year.

Now hear comes Romney...

Mitt Romney: Teachers Have The Right To Go On Strike

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/mitt-romney-teachers-strike.php

Speaking at an education summit sponsored by NBC News, Romney said that he wouldn’t stand in the way of teachers engaging in an organized work stoppage, as they recently did in Chicago.

“I don’t know that I would prevent teachers from being able to strike,” Romney said. “Allowing them to strike on matters such as compensation is a right that exists in this country,” he said in response to a question from host Brian Williams.

Ouch...! So - can we get a comment from Mr Rock?

Does Todd Rock support Mitt Romney?

If Rock supports Romney - he's turned a few years of legislative effort into a giant puff of smoke...