Angry Republican interrupts Holden speech [Missou GOV]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 1/21/2004 | Terry Ganey and Virginia Young

[JohnnyZ]

JEFFERSON CITY - When Missouri Gov. Bob Holden walked into the House chamber to give his State of the State message Wednesday, lawmakers gave him a polite standing ovation.

But by the time Holden, a Democrat, was halfway into his address, Republicans were no longer clapping. And politeness had gone by the wayside.

[JohnnyZ]

Looks like One-Term-Bob is trying to rally the Democrats behind him by being confrontational, harping on education and pandering to, let's face it, poor black people. "Republicans are rich and they're trying to attack you!"

[JohnnyZ]

Missouri Republicans have really been cruising lately; they've stood up for conservatism and refused to defer to their daft governor.

[rrrod]

wish our republicans would start fighting back

[CasearianDaoist]

Is he really going?

[Ditto]

This is in need of an edit to maje it more accurate.

"The governor repeated a request that the Legislature raise nearly $500 million in taxes on cigarettes, casinos and the wealthy to provide money for schools corrupt teacher union thugs who grease his pocket".

[steve8714]

This is a strategy to gut his primary opponent, Claire McCaskill, by putting the poverty pimps squarely in his camp. I am sure this will work in STL, less knowledgeable about KC. McCaskill is poison for him...to win he will have to be so nasty he will alienate many women and independents; he will not carry the outstate except for Hannibal and Hearnes country against Blunt. Unless he finds incriminating pics of Blunt somewhere, his combover will no longer beour state symbol.

[donozark]

All Republicans (but one sorry ass) voted yesterday to rescind Gov. Holdup's fee on state employees who refuse to join unions. YEEE-HA!

[JohnnyZ]

Is he really going?

Going . . . to be defeated in November, if not in the primary.

[JohnnyZ]

This is a strategy to gut his primary opponent, Claire McCaskill, by putting the poverty pimps squarely in his camp.

I agree. It's similar to the Howard Dean angry strategy, but without the crazy yelling.

[CasearianDaoist]

Great, I think that I should move back to the midwest - I grew up not far from MO. MO use to be so Dem infested (St. Louis I suppose.) Looks like a revolution is happening. Hope you can keep it.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

Two words:

Homeschooling & vouchers.

[steve8714]

It's the same old "Republicans will steal the dog food from your granny" strategy, and when called on it switch to Rodney King "why can't we all just get along" mode.

[Jaysun]

Holden accused Republicans of living in wealthy school districts flush with local property taxes and ignoring those in poorer districts with no options.

This is a steaming pile of nonsense. The idea that poorer districts are at a disadvantage compared to wealthy districts is pure leftist BS. I understand that this may come as some surprise to many, but I've been studying the subject a great deal.

I took a look at spending per pupil in the districts of Missouri versus the number of 10th graders proficient (Missouri Assessment Program - MAP) in math in those same districts. The time period is 2001-2002.

The average per pupil spending for the ten districts that get the least amount of money 2001-2002 was $7,000.20
The average percentage of 10th graders that were proficient in Math in 2001 for those districts was a measly 11%. Pretty bad.

The average per pupil spending for the ten districts that got the most amount of money 2001-2002 was $10,952.80
The average percentage of 10th graders that were proficient in Math in 2001 for those districts was a measly 11%.

The "top ten" gets $3,952.60 (56% increase) more money than the "bottom ten" and their results are exactly the same. That reality holds true on the local, state, and national level. Funding has nothing to do with how well students will or will not perform.

MAP RESULTS
http://dese.mo.gov/schooldata/
SPENDING PER CHILD
http://www.auditor.state.mo.us/press/2003-36.pdf