Posted on 03/16/2003 2:37:33 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, a Houston Republican, came under fire last week for suggesting that our state's commitment to providing all Texas children with a quality education is a concept from communist Russia, or, to use her words, "straight out of the pit of hell."
Specifically, The El Paso Times reported that after a hearing of the House Border Affairs Committee, of which she is a member, Riddle said: "Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell." While Riddle's comments are outrageous, they also reveal the Republican's true agenda in Texas. Riddle's comments amount to more than an individual politician foolishly showcasing her ignorance. Unfortunately, they are an accurate portrayal of the approach that many Republicans bring to the budget crisis facing Texas. Republicans proposed abolishing the state's public school finance system. Their plan would cut state funding for nine out of every 10 Texas school children without any alternative method to replace it. Republicans have proposed a voucher program that would divert taxpayer dollars to private schools and drain money out of public schools.
Republicans are contemplating slashing a program that provides low-cost health insurance to half a million children from working families. The Republican cuts would leave 250,000 children out of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Furthermore, Texas will forfeit $1 billion in federal funds from Washington, D.C., if the Republicans have their way. Republicans have proposed cutting treatment for the mentally ill and mentally retarded. The $287.5 million cut will result in the closing of state hospitals, hundreds of layoffs and thousands of Texans going without mental health treatment.
Republicans have proposed increasing tuition at our state colleges and universities. What Republican leaders are calling "tuition deregulation" would result in middle-class families being unable to afford college education for their children.
Republicans have proposed kicking 25,000 of our senior citizens out of nursing homes. Hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled people who live at home would lose their medication as well.
One Republican even suggested eliminating the 12th grade in order to balance the budget! Democrats want to balance the budget, but we oppose balancing the budget on the backs of children, the elderly and working families.
Republicans appear willing to put cuts ahead of people. Riddle may sound like an extremist, but her views reflect the proposals of many Republican legislators. What makes the Republican cuts so alarming is that there are enough Republicans like Riddle in the House and Senate to pass these types of draconian cuts.
There's a reason Republicans haven't controlled the legislature for 130 years. Perhaps after the Republican cuts are enacted, the voters of Texas will decide they shouldn't control it for another 130 years.
Malcolm is chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party.
No, they're not. The idea that the government "owes" us any of the so-called free things is outrageous. In fact, they are not free, they are funded by monies stolen from the citizenry.
Republicans proposed abolishing the state's public school finance system.
Good for them. Obviously the timing and means needs to be done carefully with an eye to allowing the much superior system that will replace it to develop.
However, beyond any of that, this is obviously just the latest of many scare tactics by the truly desperate liberals. The real test is whether Texans are smarter than the average US citizen and can see through it. I'd like to hope so.
FP
I've often wondered where all the money goes. If a Christian school can give a superior education at about 1/3 the cost, where does the other 2/3 go. The best response I've rec'd so far is that public schools have to deal with tougher kids.
Maybe. But 3x the $ for half the education?
Our local Christian High takes on the problem students that are too tough for the public school so it ain't the case here.
Bump to that.
I'm just getting around to reading this thread....
You know, I've never understood why the pro-public ed types scream about the public schools losing money if we start using vouchers. What you said is so obvious that I don't know why people buy the argument (or use the argument) that the schools will lose money. Fewer students--less money needed. Duh.
It is pretty hard to take concern for children seriously from the same people who support killing them as a matter of convenience.
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