Vic Williams: Bus Drivers are Administrators

by David Safier

Vic Williams bit hard — Chomp! — chewed and swallowed the Goldwater Institute's "1-to-1 teacher to bureaucrat ratio" line. And, like Guv candidate Buzz Mills, he went G.I. one better, turning "bureaucrats" into "administrators."

This is why the media needs to keep their crap detectors set to 11 every time G.I. makes a statement. Once the disinformation gets out there unchallenged, Republicans pick it up and repeat it as gospel. The only preventative is to nip these things in the bud.

G.I. has backed off the Bus Drivers are Bureaucrats meme, even though it hasn't admitted it's false. But Republicans are keeping it alive.

On the May 14 edition of Arizona Illustrated, Reps. Vic Williams and Daniel Patterson faced the panel. When it came to talking about Prop 100, Williams, who supports the sales tax hike, said we have to be sure the education dollars go to the classroom.

"Having 47 cents of every dollar being used in administration in Amphi . . . is something that's unacceptable."

In fact, about 9 cents of every Arizona education dollar is spent directly on administration, a number that goes up a few percent when you add administrative support services. The majority of out-of-classroom expenses are for "frills" like bus drivers, maintenance workers and cafeteria workers.

I hope folks at Amphi are doubly steamed about this, since Williams picked out their school district for criticism for no good reason.

ANTI-ETHNIC STUDIES LAW BONUS FEATURE: Later in the interview, the Reps were asked about the anti-Ethnic Studies Law, which Williams voted for and Patterson voted against. Here's the exchange between Williams and Linda Valdez of the AZ Republic:

Williams: We have a study program here that was teaching the overthrow of the United States.

Valdez: Have you ever sat in one of these classes?

Williams: Oh. No I haven't sat in.

Valdez: Have you seen the curriculum?

Williams: No I haven't seen the curriculum, but I've been given excerpts.

Valdez: But certainly as an intelligent man, you know things can be taken out of context.

Anyone who knows about Williams' misogynistic tendencies won't be surprised to hear he didn't take kindly to Ms. Valdez's persistence. He could barely contain his anger as he told her how a legislator can't study all the bills that come to the floor. Twice he said, "Linda," in that patronizing, somewhat bullying tone that implies, "Listen, little lady, when I want your opinion, I'll call you in from the kitchen."

Williams isn't fond of criticism from anyone, but when it comes from a woman, watch out!