Posted on 04/13/2005 8:24:42 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
Dear Concerned Virginian:
You've heard me talk about the need to provide relief to Virginians whose homeowner taxes are rising out of control. In fact, I've proposed a plan to help. Full funding of the state's education obligations is a cornerstone of my plan - without it, not only will local governments be forced to continue to allow homeowner taxes to rise (making saving for college that much more difficult), but we'll be jeopardizing Virginia's most important resource: her world-class work force.
This year, Mark Warner and I continued to lead Virginia's government in making progress for Virginians. We had the opportunity to make new investments in education and transportation that will have a demonstrable, positive impact on the all of our lives - if we maintain our commitment to funding these priorities.
Please Sign my Pledge to Fully Fund Education in Virginia
We were able to make these investments for two reasons: We did the hard work of bringing people together to reform Virginia's budget, and Virginia's businesses provided us with the second-fastest job growth in the nation. In order to continue our work on education and transportation, we need to stick to the budget we outlined in 2004, and continue the policies that, under Mark Warner, created our strong job growth.
A fundamental difference between my opponent and I is that I have always been committed to funding education and transportation in a fiscally responsible way and my opponent has not. He fought the 2004 budget reform, and he refuses to commit to fully funding education. He's made big transportation promises, but said that he'll take the money from the general fund, where the state gets its education money. My commitment to Virginia's public school children is this: I pledge to fully fund the state's education obligations.
Take the Pledge with Me
So this year is a big one for Virginia voters, and the choice that faces us is clear: keep Virginia moving forward and build a responsible, prosperous future for Virginia's children, or take a step back to the days of under-funded schools and massive deficits. It's our choice, but I feel confident that, with your support, a majority of Virginia's voters will make the right one.
Commit with Us to Fully Funding Education in Virginia
Tim Kaine
Kaine supporter
Richmond ping.
Tax codeword ping - "investments" by government=increased taxes!!!!
Tim Kaine SUX...MUD
Yep...Kaine ain't fooling nobody...MUD
Yep...Kaine ain't fooling nobody...MUD
Is that an actual quote? LOL...whatta MAROOON!!
"Kilgore is going to win this one, big time."
I agree...I'm already on record predicting a double-digit win in November, but we've got a lotta work to do in the meantime.
FReegards...MUD
It is an actual quote if you translate liberal double-speak into English.
Does Babelfish do translation of liberal-speak? :)
Unfortunately no. Liberal double-speak translation is a rare skill. The only school where you can study the subject is the EIB Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies.
This phrase "fully fund" is a buncha KRAP...obviously, the schools are open and doing their job, as SOL scores continue to improve annually, so what the heck does "fully fund" mean?! It means giving the SCUMBAGS at the Virginia Education Association everything they are begging for!! Fact is, if we got rid of all this overhead (read Bureaucracy) and the freeloaders who take humongous salaries but NEVER teach, we could spend the money saved on our kids, not the greedy, lowlife SCUMBAGS who dominate the Education system in this State!!
FReegards...MUD
LOL...MUD
I am still just an undergraduate student at the EIB Institute. :)
I cringe every time I hear any politician - particularly Rats - talk about education funding or funding of any kind because I know I have to hold on to my wallet.
With all due respect, the Lt. Governor is either lying or he doesn't know what he's talking about. Perhaps both.
From the Virginia Lottery website: All Virginia Lottery profits go to public school education (K-12) in Virginia. In fiscal year 2004 the Virginia Lottery turned over a record $408 million for education.
When the Lottery was established the PR campaign to get it to pass was largely based on the fact that all proceeds would go to education. They did not. They all went to the general fund. It was Republicans who argued for years that the lottery proceeds should be dedicated strictly to education. Something the RATS fought.
I believe it was under Gilmore that provision actually passed. (but I'm relying mostly on memory and having very little Google success)
Regardless the $408 million from the lottery that goes to education is not part of the general fund.
That's great! Where can we get them?
Ask Pennsylvanians about that. Rendell didn't explicitly promise to raise the income tax in order to lower property taxes, but whenever it was brought up, his supporters conceded to that.
And -- even though the Republicans forced Rendell to veto his own budget -- Rendell managed to get his tax increase through. And they're still waiting for the falling property taxes.
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