The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Is this a joke?
Recently Madison County’s Democratic state legislators came up with a weak proposal to offer tax breaks to individuals and corporations if they donate to the public school system. This will help local school systems that have been operating with deficits due to shortfalls in state funding, said state Sen. Tim Lanane. Maybe. Just a little at most.
It’s interesting that Lanane uses the phrase shortfalls in state funding because it seems as if school funding is beyond the scope of his legislative body and just happened. What he should’ve said was, local school systems have been operating with deficits because the Indiana Legislature has not done its job and violated its own constitution in the process.
Last winter Gov. Mitch Daniels arbitrarily removed $300 million from public education, and what did the Legislature do about it when it convened in January? Nothing. Instead, the residents of Indiana were treated to craven rhetoric that no bill would be discussed if it meant spending money. Not even education, which the constitution says will have a Common School fund with many sources of revenue. It also says the Common School fund will be a perpetual fund, which shall be increased but never be diminished. The constitution seems fairly clear, but the legislators are neglecting their duty as they watch (helplessly?) as Daniels gores the public education system.
Lanane, joined by fellow Democratic representatives Terri Austin and Scott Reske, seems to want to turn part of the public school funding into a gargantuan nonprofit where people donate for tax breaks. What’s next, bake sales and car washes just to keep the schoolhouse doors open?
When the wildly popular property tax caps legislation was passed, the state said don’t worry, it would pick up the tab for education. Those words were barely spoken when the state began draconian cuts that slashed teachers, administrators and programs.
It’s likely that the property tax amendment will pass in November, which means schools will be permanently at the mercy of the state for funding.
Instead of doing their job, legislators seem content to offer half-baked ideas while schools continue their descent.
This ought to outrage every Indiana resident who places a high priority on the education of children.
We need to ask just who the legislators are representing. It may be Daniels or Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett — both of whom preach a do-more-with-less economic philosophy — but it’s not the people, students and schools of Indiana. When schools are left to make up lost funds with the fleeting good intentions of donations, the state has sunk to a new low.
