G.O.P. Chief's Idea for Raising Alabama: Taxes

New York Slimes ^ | June 5, 2003 | DAVID M. HALBFINGER

[DugwayDuke]

Here's some more information.

I got a copy of this forwarded by a friend who'd received it from a liberal friend of his too. The liberals are having a field day out of a conservative republican raising taxes. My local liberal paper, The Huntsville Times (so liberal that when the editorial board endorsed Algore, the owner ran his own endorsement of Bush), has been plumping for higher taxes for several years claiming that we need them for all sorts of liberal things. The liberals see this as a "See, I told you so (we need higher taxes).

The real issue is that the state legislature is owned an operated by the AEA. In fact, the huntsville times, ran an article a year ago about the most powerful man in Montgomery. It wasn't the Govenor or the Lt. Govenor, it was Paul Hubbard, the head of the AEA. Another article (not in the times) several years ago found that Alabama had the highest percentage of legislators who were connected to education. Connected was defined as teachers, former teachers, spouses of teachers, etc. The percentage was in the upper 80s, higher than any other state. One could only wonder how such a legislature could consistently screw up the education budget. The key is the AEAs insistence on increasing teachers salaries.

The liberal news papers have been campaigning for higher taxes for several years because, in their opinion, we need to spend more on education. Actually, they want to spend more money on teachers salaries. In fact, the head of the Huntsville Times editorial board wrote an article giving his three reason for wanting higher taxes. They were 1) his daughter was a teacher and he wanted her to get a raise, 2) his other daughter was studying to be a teacher, and 3) he and his wife were embarrassed to say they got their degrees from Alabama institutions because their friends thought that meant their degrees couldn't be worth much since Alabama didn't spend enough on teachers.

The AEA lists as it's highest two priorities increasing teachers salaries and increasing the number of teachers. Now, the state legislature is trying to pass bills protecting teachers from any future layoffs resulting from their irresponsible increases in teachers salaries. IOW, they have determined that they will raise teachers salaries regardless of the funding to pay for the increases and ensure that other priorities will be raided to pay for these increases.

I wondered why Riley responded to this by proposing a tax increase. The only way I can reconcile his conservatism and this increase is a strategy that knows the increases will not be passed throwing the responsibility back to the state legislature (which, BTW, is ramming these tax increases through the legislature). Even if this doesn't pass it will set up a major battle over the state consitution.

The liberals have also been campaigning for a consitutional convention. The present document prevents the legislature from engaging in deficit spending and requires that these tax increases be referred to the electorate. When the electorate rejects them, then we go to the next stage where the liberals will demand the right to raise taxes without referring them to the voters.

Going to be a fun summer here in Alabama.

[Captain Kirk]

Riley has sold out to the educational big spending interests. If he wanted to save big money, he would abolish colleges of education and save millions....but instead he is proposing a new boondogle to give a free ride to B students. Once that is implemented, grade inflation will become even worse at the high school and college level.

[JohnnyZ]

Right now I'm going to give Riley the benefit of the doubt

The thing is, he's raising taxes more than the budget deficit. The deficit is only 600 mil or so.

[MainstreamConservative]

"Riley has sold out to the educational big spending interests. If he wanted to save big money, he would abolish colleges of education and save millions....but instead he is proposing a new boondogle to give a free ride to B students. Once that is implemented, grade inflation will become even worse at the high school and college level."

So, are you saying you want to abolish colleges, the places where people are educated so they can make in the professional world? Sounds like a great idea. I can just see it now "Vote for me and I'll abolish all colleges, so your kids can get an education from our lousy schools." Yep, that sounds like a winner.

In all seriousness, HE CAN'T CUT SPENDING. The heavily democratic legislature simply won't do. I agree with your point about selling out to big spending educational interests, like Gov. Jane Dee Hull(R) recently did in Arizona. If you want more information on the situation, see Dugwayduke's posts on the matter in this same thread.

[MainstreamConservative]

I'm sure he wanted to cut spending, but like I've said in earlier posts: the legislature would balk. See dugwayduke's posts for more information.

[Captain Kirk]

Reading is fundamental. I said "colleges of education" (not all colleges) which force public school teachers to take course after course of useless "pedagogy" and political correctness. The only requirement for teaching in public school should be a college degree in the skill taught e.g. history, math, english. A meaningless degree in "education" is a distraction.

Because the AEA contributed to his campaign, of course, Riley would never do this.

[JohnnyZ]

I'm sure he wanted to cut spending, but like I've said in earlier posts: the legislature would balk.

My point was that he is proposing $500 million in NEW spending, MORE than the legislature planned on and MORE than the budget deficit. He's not just raising spending to maintain service levels. He has actual new expensive programs.

[MainstreamConservative]

I stand corrected. I thought you were refering to all colleges. Sorry about that.

[MainstreamConservative]

I'm not sure how to respond. Your right about what Riley did, but I guess wat I'm saying is I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. If it turns out that this is not some ploy to outmanuever the legislature, then every one here has the right to be pissed off at him. I know I will.

[JohnnyZ]

Yeah, judge Riley on his full 4 years, but he's already definitely proved himself to be some kind of dope, exactly what remains to be seen.

[Captain Kirk]

No problem. BTW, closing down colleges of education is only the tip of the ice-berg on how Riley could save money in higher education. For example, he could impose term limits on overpaid college administrators. For more information, see the website of the Alabama Scholars Association: www.alabamascholars.org

[MainstreamConservative]

Exactly. I don't expect every politician to be perfect. Bill Owens, my third favorite governor (after Jeb Bush and Mark Sanford) supported some gun control after Colombine, but he has since reverted to his previous position of support for gun rights.

[MainstreamConservative]

Thanks for the link. They all sound like great ideas, but like I have said before, even if Riley wanted to do this stuff, the legislature would most likely refuse.

[Captain Kirk]

There are enough GOP legislators to sustain any veto. Besides, Riley doesn't *have to" propose his new spending initiatives such as B student grade inflation scheme.