Teachers' unions find themselves on the defensive in states across the country, as governors and lawmakers press forward with proposals to target job protections and benefits that elected officials contend the public can no longer afford academically or financially. Many of those efforts are being driven by newly elected Republicans, who have traditionally drawn political opposition from teachers' organizations--and did in last year's midterm elections--but who made historic gains in those state contests. The GOP now controls more state legislative seats than it has in more than 80 years, and it has the majority in both lawmaking chambers in 25 states. In addition, Republicans emerged from November's races with control of 29 governor's offices, erasing Democrats' previous majority in state executive branches. Many officeholders are calling for new attempts to change how teachers are paid and evaluated, and for reductions in tenure protections, efforts that were also pursued in several states last year, which have often drawn skeptical responses from unions. State leaders are also vowing to cut spending and close budget shortfalls, and many governors and lawmakers see reductions in state-funded pension systems for teachers as a part of that. A top aide to Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, a Republican, said the measure was designed to ensure that state resources are not used for political activity.