Dems, don’t give cover to cuts in education!

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by David Safier

This is a preemptive rant. I fear Democratic legislators will get all squishy when budget discussions roll around and concede to the Republicans that, yes, our current budget crisis means we have to make some cuts to our education budgets.

Don't do it!

I've already heard rumors that, during the budget talks that broke down at the end of 2008, Dems in the House were making noises about agreeing to some education cuts while the Senate Dems were standing firm. The Senate Dems are right. Stand firm. Vote No on all cuts to education, pre-K through graduate school.

Not only is this the right thing to do for Arizona (cut education and you cripple the state's present and its future), but it makes good political sense as well. That's a twofer, Dems. A win-win. We don't get many of those.

The AZ Republic ran the results of a recent state survey looking at the public's attitudes about the upcoming budget fight. A whopping 93% said, Cut spending. Only 31% said, Raise taxes. No surprises there.

But when asked what to do about K-12 education, 66% said, Spend more. Only 3% said, Spend less.

Got that? No one wants to cut the education budget. Even when you get down to the 25% or so of Arizonans who make up the unwavering Republican base, only a fraction of them want education cuts.

So Dems, if you nod your heads solemnly and say, "Yes, regrettably, we have to take money away from schools," you'll lose both the moral high ground and voter support.

Republicans love the phrase "The Ownership Society." Great. Make them own the cuts in education. They don't need your votes. They don't have Janet to veto their work. It's their fault that our tax base is so low, and if they get rid of the property tax that's currently suspended, that's their fault too. Why in the world would you share the blame for the dire situation they have created? If they're going to be the champions of tax cuts, let them be the political victims of budget cuts.

They've been waiting for this moment to cut government spending. If you can stop them, great. If you can't — and it looks like you can't — make them live with the consequences.

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4 thoughts on “Dems, don’t give cover to cuts in education!”

  1. They’ve been waiting for this moment to cut government spending. If you can stop them, great. If you can’t — and it looks like you can’t — make them live with the consequences.

    That means you, Sen. Cheuvront. Anyone who give the Repubs bipartisan cover needs a challenge in the primary. (Yes, I know he’s termed out in the Senate, but he might want to run for something else.) Cheuvront and Desimone gave the Repubs the votes they needed to extend the property tax freeze and made the governor have to veto it.

  2. Oddly enough, Thane, I like this. It’s clever and insightful. I don’t agree with it, but I like it. Nice writing, guy! Keep it up.

  3. I will join in David Safier’s recommendation. All those elected officials who feel that the government education system shouldn’t have to make do with a reduced budget because the rate of increase in tax revenue is down should refuse to cut that budget item.

    After all the State of Arizona can just print money, lay off government police officers, furlough burglars and murderers from state prison, slow down the inspection and maintenance of roads and highways (I hear that worked well in Minnesota), stop bothering to investigate arson (after all sending Johnny to free kindergarten is so much more important) and cut down on health inspections.

    Because everybody *knows* that government education is the very most vital government service and that it should be spared fiscal belt tightening above every other government service I mentioned.

    [Disclaimer: the State of Arizona really can’t just print money, that bit of magic is a monopoly of the Federal Reserve.]

    Elected officials can start beating the drum of higher taxes too. They might as well start now so that their opponents can get some good quotes come the 2010 legislative election season. I look forward to some Libertarians beating out tired tax and spend Democrats (as well as beating out tired tax and spend Republicans).

    After all everyone loves paying taxes so very much, don’t they?

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