Posted on 08/30/2006 9:59:07 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – A sweeping $3 billion agreement to give hundreds of low-performing schools smaller classes, more qualified teachers and additional counselors was revealed yesterday by the Schwarzenegger administration and the California Teachers Association.
The proposal would create one of the largest pilot programs in state history, targeting 600 struggling schools heavily populated with minority students.
As the Legislature worked feverishly to complete business for the year by tomorrow night's deadline, lawmakers also advanced several notable bills that would:
Provide prescription drug discounts for about 5 million uninsured or underinsured residents.
Make illegal immigrant students eligible for higher education financial aid if they attended three years of high school in California.
Require motorists to use hands-free devices if they want to talk on cell phones while driving.
Allow registered domestic partners, including same-sex couples, to file state income taxes jointly and have their earned income treated as community property for state tax purposes.
Prohibit schools from using textbooks that criticize people because of their sexual orientation.
Give Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa a larger role in the city's school district.
Spend $1 billion to address prison overcrowding – far short of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's $6 billion plan.
California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr lauded the pilot schools plan, saying it includes “things that our members have said make experienced teachers go to our schools of greatest need and helps the kids the most.”
As the plan abruptly surfaced in the Assembly Education Committee yesterday, there were complaints about the lack of time for review and questions about whether class-size reduction, while popular, improves education. Some critics also said such spending decisions should be made at the local level.
With the support of the powerful teachers union and Schwarzenegger, Senate Bill 1133 by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, seems headed for passage before lawmakers leave town.
The bill allocates $3 billion from a settlement announced in May of a lawsuit filed by the teachers union against Schwarzenegger for underfunding the Proposition 98 guarantee two years ago.
The settlement with the teachers union, reinforced by the new agreement, helps Schwarzenegger deal with education funding issues raised by his Democratic challenger in the governor's race, state Treasurer Phil Angelides.
The estimated 600 schools in the pilot program would be selected from applicants among 1,600 low-performing schools whose scores on statewide tests are in the bottom 20 percent.
The schools would have to maintain an average class size of 20 students in kindergarten through the third grade, a current requirement, and an average of 25 students not to exceed 27 students in most fourth-through 12th-grade classes.
The schools would have to have at least one credentialed counselor for every 300 students. Using a new index, the average experience of teachers would have to equal or exceed the district average.
The schools also would have to move toward a three-year goal of improving their test scores. Pupil attendance and graduation rates also would be expected to show improvement.
Schools in the pilot program would receive an additional $500 per pupil for kindergarten through third grade, $900 for fourth through eighth grade, and $1,000 for grades nine through 12.
The teachers union said schools with test scores in the bottom 20 percent have 134 percent more English learners than other schools, 98 percent more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, and 167 percent more parents who did not graduate from high school.
Schwarzenegger's education secretary, Alan Bersin, said he regards improving the quality of teachers as the No. 1 problem facing low-performing schools.
“This permits our lowest-performing schools to both recruit and retain teachers, and they have to agree beforehand to meet targets,” said Bersin, the former San Diego schools superintendent.
Prison overcrowding
The prison plan was offered by Democrats as a counter to the governor's proposal. In addition to less money, the Democratic plan does not contain the a key element in Schwarzenegger's plan intended to quickly ease overcrowding: transferring 5,000 illegal immigrant prisoners to public and private contractors in other states.
Democrats said the governor's plan to ease overcrowding seemed hastily prepared, lacked detail and needs more study. A two-house committee was hearing the Democratic proposal last night.
Schwarzenegger's $6 billion proposal includes $2.5 billion for 16,238 new beds at existing prisons, $1.2 billion for new prisons, and $2 billion for 10 innovative 500-bed prisons to help prepare prisoners for re-entering society.
The Democratic plan contains a $606 million lease-revenue bond, which does not need voter approval, for 5,340 additional beds at existing prisons. The plan also includes the governor's proposal to transfer 4,500 nonviolent female prisoners to local facilities if available.
Democrats balked at Schwarzenegger's proposal to transfer 5,000 illegal immigrant prisoners to out-of-state facilities, citing the likelihood of lawsuits and other obstacles. Their plan would allow voluntary transfers.
The Schwarzenegger administration said the Democratic plan does not include transferring 4,000 male inmates to local facilities. Democrats said the transfer can be made if the facilities are available.
Prescription drugs
Senate Bill 2911 was the result of negotiations between the Schwarzenegger administration and Democrats. The Senate approved the prescription drug measure and sent it to the Assembly, which approved it in a different form in May.
The measure would require the state Department of Health Services to attempt to negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers.
Drug companies that refused to cut deals with the state could find it tougher to get their prescriptions used by Medi-Cal, the state's huge health care program for the poor.
The legislation comes after voters rejected two rival discount plans last year – one backed by drug companies, the other by consumer groups – and Schwarzenegger vetoed several bills that attempted to make it cheaper for Californians to get prescription medications.
Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, D-Oakland, said the bill had gone through “quite a few rinse-cycles.”
“It's not perfect, but it's as close as it's going to get this year,” Perata said.
Don't CA schools already get trainloads of cash?
I'm expecting FO and Schmidt to trot out the Greek bogeyman repeatedly , DL to faithfully reapply her patented intimidation through quotes from the founding father, grunt to offer more of the oxymoronic logic that got us here in the first place and the alia account to occasionally swoop in from the east to rake conservatives for their unwillingness to compromise their principles.
Should be an embarrassing few days as the genetically altered Democrats in the legislature squeeze out numerous insanities, on strict, party line votes, knowing their imported, liberal brethren, hiding behind a big shinny R, will bless enough of the last minute nonsense to make a meaningful advancement of liberalism.
Aha. "the" alia. Like.. um... "the Austrian" (Guv Arnold).
If you can't complain and do your nose in the air thing, you are having a bad day. You get off on gloom, Eeyore Amerigomag.
You have principles, and so do those who disagree with your OPINIONS.
Arnold is going to win.
Certainly got the donkey part right!
Eeyore does such a gloomy bray, no?
Stick around. It should be fun for the next few days.
You'll be the center of attention.
LOL, $3 billion here, $3 billion there....
Whatever.
And that's all that matters.
Obviously.
The "gang's all here"; because you pinged us to be here.
Your choice in this election is Angelides or Arnold. Tom McClintock supports Arnold. Who do you think comprehends the politics of CA better -- Tom McClintock or Steve Greenhut?
Steve Greenhut is an excellent analyst. Were he running for Governor, would you vote for him? If so, why? If not, why?
I read Ann Coulter; but I'd not vote her in for President.
Winning office is important, Lancey. As the first step. Always.
Good. Hold that thought. That's is precisely why I want the more rabid Republican (or Democrat) partisan to concentrate on the California Topic of FreeRepublic for the next few days.
Contemporary California politics will be an excellent example of the fundamental differences between the principles that founded FreeRepublic and those that drive partisan politics in the US today. Events will highlight why this forum was founded, in spite of the best efforts of either, major political party to advance their traditional political principles.
Over the next few days work to analyze the decisions of your Republican Party leader in California. Did each of the governor's individual decisions advance conservatism or advance liberalism? Were those decision you judged to be based on conservative principles assertive for conservatism or an effort to slow the advance of liberalism, or worse, a constitutional tool to prevent those matters from being returned to the California legislature where conservatives could effectively block their implementation?
As these events unfold, gauger their effects on the advancement of conservative principles. Did the highest elected official in California's GOP advance conservative principles? Did his actions reflect the majority viewpoint of his party's membership? Was he exercising his republican or democratic mandate while enjoying his constitutional authority?
When the analysis is complete, ask yourself whether there might not be a better way, through grass roots efforts, to avoid the losses that your political party just inflicted upon individual Republicans at the discretion their elected officials. Ask yourself if continuing your support for that candidate and that party will probably encourage them and simply enable more of the same. If the answer is YES, come join us on FreeRepublic and contribute.
FreeRepublic has survived and prospered because it was founded to advance conservative principles. It has remained popular with the grass roots because it wasn't a house conceived to form a holding action, an orderly retreat, a buffer to slow the tide of liberal advance or allegiance to a political party. FreeRepublic is a proactive step, an assertive undertaking, a vehicle to promote a change through grass roots efforts, outside the limitations of organized politics, which limitations are clearly demonstrated by the partisan mentality of the opening quote .
I believe this ilkster has already admitted his choice is Philthy Angelides, unlike many of the herd who innocently pretend to support a conservative 'write-in' vote. I personally hope they are as miserable under Arnie as I would be under Philthy.
Nothing positive flows from the election of a liberal, regardless of his party registration.
Not the advancement of conservatism, the preservation of personal freedoms, the protection of individual property or rights or the general well being of the society. Nothing.
History is replete with the failures of liberalism and California's recent history, under a liberal Republican governor, at the suggestion of a liberal Republican governor, is a shinning example of those failures.
Gaining and exercising political power is important, but the philosophy which controls that power is far more important. Elect a liberal and liberalism will follow. Publicly promote the election of a liberal and liberalism will be advanced, even if that candidate fails.
If this discussion were occuring on a neutral or partisan forum partisan encouragements might be welcomed. But they are being offered on FreeRepublic, a decidedly conservative house. Shame on partisans for their abandoment of conservative principles in an effort to achieve partisan victory at any cost.
Conservatism in California has lost and suffered because of the intolerant fringe. The ilk-like element has threatened and whined and cost us elections by staying home before, and you ilk would use this phenomenon to cost us this election, and further defeat and denigration of conservatism. Its the losing attitude of the ilk which has put conservatism in California in such a sorry condition. Of course, that is the goal of the ilk herd, complete demonrat domination and the end of the CAGOP and opposition to your national socialist desires.
We could quote the founder on this subject, but the stupid ones of your ilk herd consider that 'browbeating'.
Q: Good grief... what is going on out there (California)???
The ilk KNOWINGLY is doing Angelides' is job for him.
Part of Angelides' win strategy IS to get conservatives to stay home, by getting them mad at Arnold, by making them feel complacent, etc - which is exactly what the ilk is trying to do.
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A Recipe for Success (for Angelides) (Conservatives are Angelides' secret weapon)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1689690/posts
Here are some things he could do:
o Attack Arnold from the right :
§ Illegal immigration–Arnold has angered the conservative base with some of his comments on this issue. The Angelides campaign, or perhaps an anti-Arnold independent expenditure campaign, could attack Arnold in the mail or on the radio and use Arnold’s own words against him.
§ Taxes/government spending–The state government continues to run what is essentially a deficit and Arnold’s numerous proposals to increase government spending and borrowing turn off Republicans. This line of attack could also mitigate some of the tax attacks against Angelides.
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Schwarzenegger Hears Rumbles From the Right
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1685932/posts
" low conservative turnout will loom as a key peril for the governor and a prime source of hope for Democrats."
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"Angelides ... must win 80% of the Dems and a solid majority of the DTS (declined to state) registrants, TO ACCOMPANY THE 15% REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T VOTE FOR THEIR PARTY'S TICKET"
ANGELIDES IS COUNTING ON THEM.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2006/07/new_poll_result.html
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Angelides team bullish on California's blue state math (counting on CONSERVATIVES, to win)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1676818/posts
Angelides' camp believes that while the governor enjoys support among some Democrats now, by the time ballots are cast in November, the base will remain loyal.
They also believe that the opposite will occur with the Republicans because Schwarzenegger's recent move to the left on key issues such as immigration and the environment has alienated conservatives.
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To pull off a win, Angelides must seize his opportunities
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1683377/posts
"But it will not be easy, and Angelides must take full advantage of the opportunities: ... the governor's sometimes tense relationship with conservatives; "
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This is where you, too, get sucked into the fifth columnist ruse. Conservatives are not Philthy's secret weapon. Ilk are!
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