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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Posted on 10/08/2002 9:06:43 AM PDT by windchime
COMMENTARY
'Full Monty' Bush gets it exactly right Myriam Marquez
October 8, 2002
Democrats have their undies in a bunch over Gov. Jeb Bush's "devious" talk of "a full Monty" if voters approve small class sizes for all public schools. That Jeb, he's so naughty.
Only in Florida, already the butt of late-night TV jokes about our seeming inability to count votes, would education become a "sexy" political topic. To throw in another political metaphor, watch the governor run with the ball on this one -- and win.
Because he's right.
Asking voters to say "yes" to the constitutional amendment for smaller class sizes without exposing the true costs of such a mandate is fiscally shortsighted and multibillion-dollar-foolish. Democrat Bill McBride's own education plan limits class sizes only to the third grade. McBride, who has yet to distance himself on a single education issue from his million-dollar backer, the teachers union, says he'll vote for the class-size amendment even though it's a budget buster.
Enter Bush's "fully Monty."
Bush was caught off guard last week when he didn't realize a Gannett News Service reporter was in the room recording his comments as he met with Panhandle legislators.
The governor suggested "a couple of devious plans" if the amendment passes. One would limit the money the union uses for collective bargaining and redirect that money to increase starting teacher salaries, which are woefully behind the national average. The other plan would list which programs would have to be cut and which taxes would have to be raised to pay for smaller classes and more teachers. "I've got a couple of devious plans, if this thing passes, that we might want to consider having another look at it -- kind of the fully Monty," Bush said on tape.
Oh, so titillating. So devious. Not!
Bush didn't say much of anything in private that McBride surely worries about, too. Where do we find the money?
At a recent meeting with the Sentinel's editorial board, Bush hinted that, if the class-size limit passes, he would try to take the proposal before the voters again -- this time with a full accounting of the costs.
He also lamented being unfairly blamed for keeping teacher salaries low when those are not set by the state -- they are negotiated between school districts and the teachers union. Districts note that even though the state has increased education spending by as much as 7 percent in just one year, they haven't been able to put that much money toward teacher salaries alone. Other needs, such as spiking health-care insurance costs and rising student enrollment, keep gobbling up the bottom line.
Obviously Bush would have rather kept secret that he was contemplating a mandated starting-teacher salary statewide. After all, local control is a Republican mantra, even though it's not always a panacea. Sure enough, by Friday he was distancing himself from that idea. Not without sarcasm he added, "I will lose the election if I do the full Monty," a reference to the British film where down-and-out guys dance nekked.
Here's the naked truth:
The problem with the amendment isn't its goal, it's its full sweep. Why didn't small-class-size activists focus on the poorest schools, where class size can really make a difference and improve students' academic performance? Easy. Middle-class voters probably wouldn't buy one more "entitlement" for the poor. So politicians who want to help inner-city schools made it a feel-good cause for all. It's Mom and apple pie a la mode, with sprinkles!
Bush argues that a statewide mandate would tie the governor's hands, making it difficult to help the neediest D and F schools, which now get extra money for after-school tutoring, more reading teachers and the like. He makes a good case.
Where he's way off the mark is in the $27 billion price tag he uses to scare people about the class-size costs over a decade. For one, that estimate figures new classrooms would be built on a cash-only basis when the state has a long history of using bonds to pay off construction costs over several decades.
Voters do deserve an independent estimate of the true costs of the class-size amendment, though. There's nothing devious about that.
Myriam Marquez can be reached at mmarquez@orlandosentinel.com
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Ms. Marquez is wrong about the $27 billion bill. The Florida Tax Watch, a very independent organization, did an extensive study and found that the cost to Fla. taxpayers would be between $20 - $27 billion. Jeb wasn't lying.
AP, Gannett, McBride and the teacher's unions have been lying about the final cost...claiming that it could cost the taxpayers less than a billion. The Florida press is asking the wrong parties for an explanation.
Incidentally, Bill McBride's wife Alex Sink was the "Chair-Elect" of the Florida Tax Watch, the organization behind this study, in 2000
Official Price Tag on Class Size Initiative - Florida Tax Watch (BAD IDEA, McBride!)
If you want on or off my "'til election day" Fla. Freeper ping list, please ping me.
There will be a televised debate between Senator Tom Rossin and Frank Brogan on October 10th from 8pm-9pm in Tallahassee.
This debate is sponsored by The Florida Channel and moderated by Beth Switzer.
The following local affiliates agreed to air the debate live: WBCC- Cocoa, WJCT- Jacksonville, WLRN- Miami WMFE- Orlando, WFSG- Panama City, WSRE- Pensacola WFSU- Tallahassee, WEDU- Tampa
The following local affiliates will air the debate at a later time (times noted): WCEU- Daytona Beach (Friday, October 11, 8 p.m.) WGCU- Ft. Myers (Thursday, October 10, 9 p.m.) WUFT- Gainesville (Thursday, October 10, 9 p.m.) WPBT- Miami (Thursday, October 10, 11 p.m.) WUSF- Tampa (Thursday, October 10, 9 p.m.)
If you are outside of these areas, please contact your local Public Broadcasting affiliate (listed below). Let them know this debate is an important part of the political process and it is important that they carry it.
WXEL- West Palm Beach (561.737.8000)
This was copy and paste job. Sorry bout the format but at least we've got the stations, "kinda, sorta" (Jebism).
She's poking fun at the dems trying to demonize Governor Bush. How kewl is that?
I want a 'deputy' badge. 
I am responding to the Oct. 5 front-page coverage of your newspaper, ``Bush Backpedals.'' As a conservative Democrat, it is very difficult for me to try to focus on the issues when I read a newspaper that attempts to uneven the playing field. I am writing about how The Tampa Tribune gives this article front- page coverage with four weeks to go in the election, yet the Miami Herald and other newspapers throughout the state do not give the subject an inch of ink. How dare Alisa LaPolt or anyone question Gov. Bush and his character and credibility at this time in the election process? It is nothing more than tabloid journalism and media hype to the citizens of a county that Bill McBride calls home. I can only hope that your readers can see through the Tribune's story and focus on the issues. Just because McBride is from Tampa doesn't make him the best choice. Janet Reno's out; now, let's attack Bush? It is sad that the Tribune attempts to make Bush's sidebar conversations an issue at this point. Politics is dirty. I am sure McBride speaks the same behind closed doors. Democrats and Alisa LaPolt alike are doing anything and everything they can to minimize Bush's relevance in this election. There is no need for the Tribune to get involved in the hype. Let's be fair and balanced, Mother Trib. I am certainly not going to change my opinion of Bush or his policies because of the actions of a tabloid journalist! *******Tampa
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