Notes For Friday, January 24, 2003
TIME RUSSERT, WHERE WERE 'YE WHEN WE NEEDED 'YE. In the McBride - Bush "debate" moderated by Tim Russert, McBride was savaged for not explaining to Russert's satisfaction how he would pay for the class size amendment; Russert gave Bush a pass on the issue, even though Bush was caught saying he had "devious plans" to undermine implementation of the amendment. Now we learn what those devious plans are, as Bush outlines what the courtier class would descibe as his "universal and timeless" vision for reducing class sizes: school vouchers, more portables, shifting responsibility to local government, lowering graduation standards, etc. Coverage:
BUSH TO PAY FOR CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT WITH . . . VOUCHERS. Bush "proposed Thursday allowing local school districts to offer private-school vouchers to students in overcrowded classrooms." Bush claims school " Districts could unload students to private schools for less money than it would take to educate them in public schools." The Dems responded that this must be the "devious plan" to undermine the voters' will that Bush referred to prior to the election.
This proposal comes on the heels of Bush's statement that "the cost of reducing class size will eat up dollars that might have otherwise gone to raise teacher pay." So, the class size amendment may result, so far, in: (1) little or no teacher pay increases, (2) private school vouchers, and, don't forget, (3) Bush's earlier ruminations about legalizing gambling to reduce class sizes. We want to thank Tim Russert, yet again, for giving Bush a pass in the debate on what he would do to implement the class size the class size amendment.
Hey, here's a suggestion, John Ellis, rescind "the $1.5 billion [you have] been giving away every year in tax cuts to those who least need it." 6:19 AM
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MORE BRIGHT IDEAS: LET SOMEONE ELSE RAISE YOUR TAXES TO PAY FOR THE CLASS SIZE AMENDMENT. In addition to private school vouchers, Bush would implement the class size amendment by making local school boards responsible. Ignoring the fact that "the constitutional amendment puts the onus on the state to pay for smaller classes, Bush would shift the penalty for noncompliance to districts."
"Those that don’t begin reducing classroom averages by at least two students per year would be required to implement one of four unsavory options: rezoning, dual class sessions, year-round schools and vouchers to private schools. And those that don’t meet constitutional class size limits by 2008 would have to contend with a plan written for them by the state Board of Education." Bush's plan, of course,"pressures counties to raise local sales taxes", while he merrily "giv[es] away [1.5 billion dollars] every year in tax cuts to those who least need it."
6:19 AM
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YET MORE BRIGHT IDEAS . . . MORE PORTABLES AND REDUCED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. "The governor also wants districts to be able to lift local graduation requirements that are stricter than the state’s. And he wants the state to ease requirements on everything from portables, charter schools, classroom construction and teacher certification.
6:08 AM
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