In the 2001-03 state budget debate, a reduction from a planned $5.2 billion to $5.1 billion for K-12 is being called a cut even though this is an increase over 1999-2001 spending of $4.6 billion. -- MATT EVANS, Executive director, Oregon Tax Research. Did you understand that? The actual 1999-2001 school budget was $4.6 billion. The proposed Republican 2001-2003 budget is a record $5.1 billion. Unless you attended a modern public school, you can probably tell which number -- 5.1 or 4.6 -- is greater. The Oregon Left (mainstream media reporters and editors, liberal Democrat and Rockefeller Republican politicians, publc...