Sunday, March 05, 2006
"Teachers again become a political football"
Go slow with extra income
Unexpected state revenue boost may not recur.
SHREVEPORT TIMES EDITORIAL
(excerpt)
From a political standpoint it is understandable the governor would fire a quick salvo to stake out spending in an effort to ward off the most dangerous prospect: a legislative raid on the "found" millions for pet departments or construction items that fell victim to cuts in the capital outlay budget.
Just as in last year's regular legislative session, teachers again become a political football. Last year, the governor lost a proposal to use cigarette taxes to fund teacher raises, again a goal of merit but based on a flawed funding philosophy of using sin taxes to finance education. The rub now is overextending a battered checkbook without any guarantee of tomorrow's paycheck.
