This is a summary of how education funding is affecting races for governor in other states this fall

Posted on 10-15-2006 at nashuatelegraph.com

Article published Oct 15, 2006
This is a summary of how education funding is affecting races for governor in other states this fall:

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/NEWS01/110150222/-1/news

Vermont
Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, proposes capping school budget increases at 4 percent annually unless local voters override the cap by a 60 percent majority.

Democratic hopeful Scudder Parker said that would decimate spending on schools, but said he’s open to changing the funding formula.Illinois
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, proposes borrowing against future lottery revenues to increase current funding for schools.

Republican candidate Judy Baar Topinka favors a land-based casino for Chicago and expansion of existing riverboat casinos to raise enough money for schools and at the same time freeze the education portion of local property-tax bills.

In frustration, the state’s largest teachers union declined to endorse a candidate for governor for the first time in three decades.New York
The state appeals court heard arguments last week on a 1993 lawsuit New York City parents brought to increase funding. A lower court has ruled the state must increase aid spending by $5.7 billion for the city.

Democratic nominee Elliot Spitzer – who, as the state’s attorney general for the past eight years, has defended the state in this case – said he’d settle the suit, but hasn’t offered any specific proposals because he doesn’t want to undermine the ongoing court case.

Republican John Faso proposes to cap increases in school property taxes and calls Spitzer’s commitment a “joke,’’ claiming he would raise state taxes.Maryland
Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, a Democratic, accused Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. of breaking an education aid promise.

Ehrlich increased state spending by a record $1.4 billion, but that didn’t include part of the so-called Thornton Plan to compensate school districts with higher costs.

However, Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., O’Malley’s father-in-law, wrote a letter at Ehrlich’s request stating that part of the plan was optional.Ohio
Republican candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell would cap non-classroom spending at 35 percent of all school costs and pursue private education vouchers and more privately run charter schools. Syndicated columnist George Will offered the “65-cent solution’’ – i.e. dedicating 65 percent of school budgets to classroom spending – in 2005, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry already signed an executive order to carry it out in his state.

Democrat Ted Strickland would lead an effort to come up with a system that meets constitutional requirements, but he offered no specifics. Strickland charged that David Brennan, a GOP contributor and charter school operator, made $15 million last year on underperforming schools.Connecticut
Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, called for a study into the current education funding formula, which relies heavily on local property taxes.

Democrat John DeStefano would make pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds universal in the neediest districts and hire 330 certified master teachers to work in these schools. To pay for that, plus a local property tax freeze for senior citizens, DeStefano would raise the income tax 1 percent for millionaires.Kansas
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she brought peace to an unruly five-year legislative fight over school funding spurred by a state Supreme Court decision.

Republican Jim Barnett questions whether taxpayers can afford the three-year, $541 million increase in aid the state Supreme Court accepted in June as enough to satisfy the plaintiffs in the case.California
In 2003, Republican candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger said any attempt to override an education aid mandate would be “over my dead body.’’ In 2005, Schwarzenegger sponsored a referendum to undo the mandate. It failed badly, and Schwarzenegger approved record state education aid in this year’s budget.

Democratic candidate Phil Angelides said Schwarzenegger has “no soul’’ and can’t be trusted to keep commitments on education and other key issues.