Kerry pledges $30 billion for teachers

The Associated Press ^ | May 06, 2004 | AP

[CSM]

SAN BERNARDINO - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry pledged Thursday to channel $30 billion over 10 years to improve teacher pay as well as raise teaching standards, including bonuses of up to $5,000 for those who teach math and science or work in high-need schools.

The program would tap a $200 billion education trust fund established with money from the repeal of President Bush’s tax breaks for those earning more than $200,000 a year, the Kerry campaign said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4916452/

[rintense]

as well as raise teaching standards

Uh, Bush already DID that, and the NEA is screaming full force!

[Piquaboy]

I suppose this is coming out of his own pocket. Right?

[don'tbedenied]

Bush pledges 31 Gazillion Billion and he'll take it from thtax revenues created by the tax cut. So there.

[RetiredArmy]

Did you just hear your pay check shrinking? I did. The Hillery lets raid the 401k savings bin is also still out there.

[jjm2111]

Go get those people making $250,000 a year? How's your trust fund heinzboy?

[maestro]

Kerry pledges $30 billion for teachers for teacher's private UNION?

Hmmmmmmmmm

/sarcasm

[Steve_Seattle]

When Bush tried to get some accountability to go along with federal money, the teachers unions, NEA, etc., raised hell; they basically said they would not improve academic performance for any amount of money. So Kerry is saying, ok, fine, to tell with standards, I'll just give you a bunch of free money if you'll vote for me.

[TSgt]

I think I'll quit my job and go be a teacher. Can you imagine having the summer off and all those other "in service" days?

What a joke.

[Armed Civilian]

[blanknoone]

Wow...that is really generous of him. But I thought his wife was 'only' worth about $750 million? OHHHH! He means he is going to confiscate MY money and give it away!

[So Cal Rocket]

Let's do the math to see how much each individual teacher would get:

$30 billion over 10 years is $3 billion per year.

There are 6.2 million teachers in the US, so:

$3B/6.2M = $483.87 per teacher

$483.87 per teacher per year = $9.31/teacher/week - which is about $6.00/teacher/week after taxes, enough for each teacher to go to Starbucks once a week to buy a Latte and a Muffin.

We should call this Kerry's Starbucks for Teachers plan.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Where in hell does he think that money is going to come from? Oh nevermind, it's Kerry and he'll demand cutbacks to schools tomorrow...

[CSM]

I felt my wallet shrink, it was a pain in the a$$!

What is the Hillary 401K plan? Did she propose raiding 401K funds to pay for something?

[rintense]

Yeah, the teachers won't see one nickle of it, and then blame the NCLB Act for it.

[Wolfie]

Another Gov't "Trust Fund"? LOL!

[Wolfie]

The Hillery lets raid the 401k savings bin is also still out there.

401Ks and IRAs will be a target soon even if government spending doesn't increase by one penny.

[tom h]

"Kerry pledges $30 billion for teachers"

Actually, I like this promise and I like the fact that Kerry, at this stage of the campaign is pandering -- ahem, "reaching out to" -- the teachers unions.

All he's doing is wasting his time, and his promises of money, shoring up his base of voters -- those who would've voted for him anyway.

Now, a $30 B promise of funds to swing voters, like blue-collar, while male union member -- that would have me troubled.

[taxesareforever]

Yeah, and at what cost? Billions and test scores still aren't rising. The educational system is a total failure and all politicians want to do is throw more money into it. It's called "creating a voting bloc".

[BlessedBeGod]

The program would tap a $200 billion education trust fund established with money from the repeal of President Bush’s tax breaks for those earning more than $200,000 a year, the Kerry campaign said.

There's no way a repeal of tax breaks for those earning more than $200,000 would save even a tiny fraction of $200 billion. Who does he think he's kidding?