Prop 1 wants us to vote to allow a one cent increase in the sales tax to go to support education. I support giving our kids a good education; I have two kids currently getting educated in Idaho.
What I'd like to see/hear is a response to the argument that the "earmark" won't make a difference. That is, if we earmark a certain amount of money for education, what will prevent the legislature from simply decreasing the general fund payments to schools by the same amount. The lottery was supposed to help schools, and money does go to schools from lottery income. I think that the legislature just lowered its suport by the amount the lottery contributed.
Does anyone have a response to this concern?
2 comments:
I see this proposition as a lose-lose scenerio for education. If the proposal passes, I beleive legislators will do just as you say. If the proposal fails, I believe legislators will see it as a sign that voters don't support increased spending for education and will either hold at current levels, or even reduce funding further. I guess those of us who believe that education is important will just have to sell more cookie dough, or wrapping paper or greeting cards to fund education. That is, unless voters choose to finally elect people who don't see teachers and taxes as enemies of the state.
Dean
Prop 1 won't raise the sales tax another cent. However, it would force the legislature to come up with the $210 million in funding which means the legislature could raise the sales tax another cent.
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