GOP legislators are not conservatives. They are reckless
Published April 15, 2014
Editorial by News and Observer, April 14, 2014.
It really is time to stop calling those who run the N.C. General Assembly conservatives. They are not conservative. They are reckless.
There’s a long list of actions that demonstrates their disregard for what defines the truly conservative. They hand out extravagant amounts to the wealthy in tax cuts and leave the state strapped for basic services. They turn down billions of dollars in federal support for the jobless and the health needs of the working poor. They ignore the principles of sound investment by cutting spending on public schools and higher education. They trample constitutional ideals regarding voting rights and civil rights. They shirk their obligations to be careful stewards of the environment.
The list could go on, but the case is concisely illustrated in the latest turmoil over school vouchers. The legislature passed as part of the state budget a provision allowing the expenditure of $10 million in so-called “opportunity scholarships” for students from low-income families. The vouchers are intended to provide as many as 2,400 students currently attending public schools up to $4,200 each annually. They could use the vouchers to attend K- 12 private schools, including religious schools.
Lawmakers knew at the time that spending public money on private and religious schools was legally tenuous on both state and federal constitutional grounds, but they went ahead and passed it. Some 4,700 children applied for the grants, which were supposed to be available for the coming school year.
Injunction ordered
Naturally, the N.C. Association of Educators, the N.C. School Boards Association and others filed two lawsuits challenging the voucher program. In February, Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood issued a temporary injunction blocking the law pending a ruling in the cases.
That’s where the cases should stand. If the law is upheld, then proceed. That was the position of state Attorney General Roy Cooper, who is defending the law but declined to challenge the injunction. But the legislature’s Republican leaders, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis, are taking a damn-the-torpedoes approach. They want to start handing out vouchers before it has been determined that such payments are legal.
Tillis and Berger announced last week that they intend to ask the state Supreme Court to stay Hobgood’s injunction. If they’re successful, the State Educational Assistance Authority may spend up to $400,000 to set up rules for distributing the voucher funds and conducting a lottery to determine which applicants will receive an “opportunity scholarship.”
Repayment a possibility
In a March 31 letter to Tillis and Berger, Grayson G. Kelley, the chief deputy attorney general, warned that going ahead without a court ruling could result in costly administrative preparations for a program that subsequently dies. He also pointed out that those who receive the vouchers may be obligated to return the funds.
“We are also concerned about the potential ramifications for parents, students and schools if the legislation is struck down; $10 million expended through an unconstitutional program could raise significant issues, including whether scholarship funds should be repaid,” Kelley wrote.
Rather than accept the court’s order for a delay and Kelley’s concerns about going forward, the two Republican leaders are claiming that the injunction jeopardizes public funding for other state-supported education programs including private university scholarships, pre-kindergarten, Smart Start, aid to disabled and deaf children and Teach for America.
That is an extreme and alarmist reading of the injunction’s basis and a weak rationale for proceeding with vouchers without court approval. But on that basis, they’re willing to press for the launching of a potentially unconstitutional program at considerable cost and risk.
Reason and prudence would dictate a more cautious approach, but Tillis and Berger long ago showed they aren’t about being conservative.
April 15, 2014 at 8:17 am
TP Wohlford says:
Damned near every conservative can recite liberal ideas and values in a way that a liberal will accept. But I've met very few liberals who can recite conservative values and ideals -- and obviously the N/O staff is not among that educated few. And this entire article is yet another example.
Gang, if you're gonna argue a point, it helps to be able to describe the thing you're arguing against. Otherwise, you're just beating up straw men. I realize that Straw Men are less likely to actually say something that blows apart your reasoning, but still it must be frustration to do.
April 15, 2014 at 8:38 am
Tom Hauck says:
With the current (2012/13) state test passing rate for Economically Disadvantaged or ED students at 17.4%, I would think your organization would be in favor of anything that improves learning, if nothing else than to have future customers who can read.
Thankfully Darrell Allison and Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (www.pefnc.org) are working, with the help of the Republicans in the Legislature, to assure an education for every child.
By the way, a $4,200 scholarship is half the amount ($8,436) the state public schools spend for each child and the result is that the only group passing above 50%on the Reading and Math End-of-Grade tests are the Asians. Why are you not outraged?
April 15, 2014 at 10:52 am
Norm Kellly says:
First, you have to consider the source. Since this editorial appeared in the Noise & Disturber, you have to realize they are going to side with the libs.
That being said, when the editorial starts out with bogus statements, then you know the article isn't going to go anywhere good.
'They hand out extravagant amounts to the wealthy in tax cuts'. Interesting tidbit that libs including media-types ignore: the vast majority of taxes are paid by 'the wealthy'. So when tax cuts are implemented, thinking people know that those who pay taxes will get tax cuts. In the 'mind' (that term is used quite loosely!) of libs, everyone should get a tax cut, but especially those who pay very little to start with, or none at all. For libs, the bottom 10% or 20% should get 80% or 90% of the tax cuts, while the top 10% or 15% should get no tax cut at all. This is what libs call 'fair' and 'their fair share'. This is actually called punishing success. So when the people who pay taxes get a tax cut, libs claim it's paying off the wealthy for voting in their buddies. When those on the take vote for demons, do they call it payback? Of course not. That would be too honest!
Can it be called a 'hand out' to wealthy people when the plan is to steal less money from them? Let's see, I used to steal 25% of your earnings. Now I'm only going to steal 20% of your earnings. This is a 5% handout? Only in the ever-confused mind of a lib! To people who pay NO taxes or very little taxes, the conservatives are saying that you don't get as much of a tax break because you weren't paying that much to start with. This is evil? The flip side, something libs refuse to do because it shines such a negative, bright light on lib 'ideas'. What is libs preferred tax? Sales tax. Who suffers more under a sales tax, the wealthy or the poor? Who is FORCED to pay sales tax more? The wealthy or the poor? Who is hurt more when sales taxes increase? The wealthy or the poor? Who is it that constantly talks about wanting to increase the sales tax, widen the number of items affected by sales taxes? It's the libs! Once again, who suffers more with a sales tax increase? It's the POOR, you dunderhead! Why are libs so concerned about the poor when it comes to trying conservative ideas/policies, but so reckless with the poor when it comes to sales taxes (and other items!)?
What is it about the poor that libs don't want to ALLOW them to seek out the best education for their families? Is it that if the poor get to experience a good education, they will turn into conservatives? Well, of course that is what would happen! And I'm sure that does enter the head of libs trying to control 'the poor'. But the biggest, most important reason that libs oppose education reform is because it TAKES POWER & CONTROL away from the libs! The same reason libs object to so many other changes that are favored by conservatives.
Reckless is continuing to spend money on extended unemployment benefits when you've already gone into debt to pay the existing benefits. Reckless is spending money on a tea cup museum instead of education. Reckless is buying a lake-rated ferry to get kids at the outer banks to school across the ocean! Reckless is the state stepping in to purchase/run/operate the failed Parton entertainment center. Reckless is failing to privatize the ABC system, removing the state from ANY responsibility with alcohol sales except oversight. The list of reckless from the lib side is endless. We've had 100 years for the libs to show us where they stand. The voters decided they didn't like it and wanted a change. The response from libs, and the N&D (redundant!), is that the conservatives are being reckless. Once again projecting onto their opponents their own problems.
The rest of this editorial isn't worth reading. Kinda like when the White House occupier speaks. A monumental waste of time to listen. Why force myself to listen to lies and fabrication and ignorance? I've got other things to do besides listen to His High Holiness (drug ref intended!) or read N&D editorials. My mind is a terrible thing to waste, so I choose not to waste it on at least these 2 mentioned items.
April 15, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Andy Orr says:
Oh yeah, right, got it.
We're suppose to believe that NC state Republican legislators are true advocates and defenders of education like we're suppose to believe the current administration of the NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources is a true advocate and defender of the NC natural environment, and that changes in NC election laws are designed to protect the legitimacy of the democratic process rather than undermine it by suppressing the number of votes opposing Republican candidates.
Uh huh, and Thom Tillis is the tooth fairy, Phil Berger is the Easter Bunny, and Pat McCrory will be a two term governor.
April 16, 2014 at 8:26 am
TPWohlford says:
Like we were to believe that the Dems were, since they took power in that military coup, defenders of civil rights, environmental concerns (whose watch was said ash heaps built?), and poverty issues?
C'mon. You're asking me to believe that any politician actually believes what they said to get into office, then or now. And you think that either side if full of people who fight to the death for anything they talked about in the election?
If you believe any of that, perhaps we should revisit our K-12 education system....
