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For Immediate
Release
THIRD TIME IS NOT
ALWAYS THE CHARM!
A Vote Against Our Children Is A
Vote Against Our Future
06/09/06
On June 6th, 2006 the Independence school district was handed it’s hat in a
special election on a $18.4 million dollar bond proposal vote that would have
improved Independence Schools. This was the third time that the proposal had
been presented to the voters and the third time it had failed. The proposal
contained two parts. One part would have retained a half cent sales tax that we
are already paying and redirected it for school improvements. The other proposal
was a slight increase in the mill levy to help fund the school systems
improvements. Basically this last proposal would have merely increased yearly
property taxes by just an average of $40.00 per home owner per year. In order
for the measure to pass both proposals had to pass. There were 2,951 voters that
turned out for the vote. Of these 1,434 voted in favor of and 1,517 voted
against the measure. A difference of only 83 votes. I will not get into the
demographics of those who voted for or against the proposals what I will say is
how sad that there were 1,517 people who cast a vote against our children and
their education. Have these people forgotten that they received a quality
education when they were in school? Do they not feel that today’s children
deserve the same?
As I have talked to people about this I have discovered that, for the most part,
it was not the slight increase in property tax that disturbed them, it was the
half cent sales tax. How odd I find that! It seems that though the school system
took every opportunity to educate the public on this issue they still failed to
realize that the half a penny was a tax we were already paying. The general
public thought it was a new tax and they were not open for that prospect.
Whether it was a new tax or an established tax how unfortunate that the voters
valued our children’s future not worth a half a penny and an extra $40.00 a year
that they wouldn’t have to spend at Wal-Mart.
The special vote came on the heels of this statement made by Representative
Frank Miller at a legislative luncheon a couple of weeks earlier:
"I VOTED NO ON THE SCHOOL FINANCE PACKAGE BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS
ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT IT FOR THREE YEARS. I ALSO VOTED NO ON GAMING. IF PEOPLE
WANT TO GO TO OKLAHOMA I SAY LET THEM GO!"
Hmmm, lets see.... He voted "NO" because he did not think there was enough money
for the school package YET voted "NO" on a bill that would have supplied the
funding, added revenue to the State, strengthened teachers, civil servant,
police and fire retirement funds as well as funding numerous health programs.
Not to mention basically telling Kansans to take their money and give it to
another State. Sometimes I think my head is going to explode from all the
illogical reasoning it has to absorb! Mr. Miller seems to consistently vote
against funding educational resources for our children even making the statement
at one point that, “My children are educated.” This infers that since his
children are educated the education of other peoples children is no longer a
concern of his.
This vote also clearly illustrated one of my major arguments against TABOR the
taxpayers bill of goods that is being touted by the Republican’s as a taxpayers
bill of rights. One of the things that TABOR does is to ask the voters to do the
job they elected the Representative to do and vote on tax increases. Determining
whether an increase or even a decrease in taxes is necessary is a tough decision
to make. This is one of the hardest jobs that a Legislator has to do but again
as I have stated it is what the voters elected them to do. When you ask the
general public to make the decision on any issue which concerns taxes they will
most likely vote against them because they may not completely grasp the
necessity of the tax. Granted on this issue a vote had to be taken but it still
acts as a prime example of what can and will happen when you ask the voter to do
the Representatives job.
For those voters who cast a vote against our schools and our children I say to
you; Do not whine or complain when our schools fall apart, our children fall
behind, other States pass us by in education and other countries leave us in the
dust in economic and industrial expansion. It was your vote that decreased job
opportunities and illustrated to our children that they just weren’t worth a few
extra dollars of your money.
For those voters who cast a vote in favor of our schools and children I say to
you; Job well done! You have demonstrated that our children are important and
that they matter. You know that a quality education is the foundation of not
only Kansas future development but also that of the United States. You are
progressive, caring individuals who understand the value of our schools and our
children and I applaud you. I am proud to be counted among your kind. Do not be
discouraged and keep fighting the good fight.
"The elected official works for the people! You do not make promises to your
boss which are beyond your power to keep and expect to hold your position."
-Jim George- Democratic Candidate, Kansas State House of Representatives
District #12 |
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