How does the GOP think the US is going to recover and compete globally with these attacks? In many cases, the costs will be pushed from the state level to the local level so wealthier areas will find a way to fund schools. (Yes, that means higher taxes but the state people can still claim that they didn't raise taxes.) For students living in lower income areas, they will be economically punished. The Republicans ran on right wing agendas but they never said it would be this extreme. The far right, radical agenda is likely to stir Democratic voters in 2012. The big problem though is that the Democrats are still afraid to confront this extremism and shift the country back to the center. How inspiring is it to vote for "we stink but the other team is worse?"
Robert Scott, Perry’s appointed education commissioner, has said he needs at least $6 billion more than legislative leaders have proposed just to keep the schools functioning.
On this weekend’s rally, Perry added, “I welcome folks to come to Austin and be engaged in the process. But I also remind them that Austin, Texas, particularly when we’re talking about schools, is not the be-all, end-all from the standpoint of decision-making.”
Lawmakers have proposed budgets that would leave schools more than $9 billion short of the money they need to fulfill current law. Many school districts have looked first to reductions in their administrative and nonteaching force before cutting teachers.
