Posted on 03/16/2003 2:37:33 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, a Houston Republican, came under fire last week for suggesting that our state's commitment to providing all Texas children with a quality education is a concept from communist Russia, or, to use her words, "straight out of the pit of hell."
Specifically, The El Paso Times reported that after a hearing of the House Border Affairs Committee, of which she is a member, Riddle said: "Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell." While Riddle's comments are outrageous, they also reveal the Republican's true agenda in Texas. Riddle's comments amount to more than an individual politician foolishly showcasing her ignorance. Unfortunately, they are an accurate portrayal of the approach that many Republicans bring to the budget crisis facing Texas. Republicans proposed abolishing the state's public school finance system. Their plan would cut state funding for nine out of every 10 Texas school children without any alternative method to replace it. Republicans have proposed a voucher program that would divert taxpayer dollars to private schools and drain money out of public schools.
Republicans are contemplating slashing a program that provides low-cost health insurance to half a million children from working families. The Republican cuts would leave 250,000 children out of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Furthermore, Texas will forfeit $1 billion in federal funds from Washington, D.C., if the Republicans have their way. Republicans have proposed cutting treatment for the mentally ill and mentally retarded. The $287.5 million cut will result in the closing of state hospitals, hundreds of layoffs and thousands of Texans going without mental health treatment.
Republicans have proposed increasing tuition at our state colleges and universities. What Republican leaders are calling "tuition deregulation" would result in middle-class families being unable to afford college education for their children.
Republicans have proposed kicking 25,000 of our senior citizens out of nursing homes. Hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled people who live at home would lose their medication as well.
One Republican even suggested eliminating the 12th grade in order to balance the budget! Democrats want to balance the budget, but we oppose balancing the budget on the backs of children, the elderly and working families.
Republicans appear willing to put cuts ahead of people. Riddle may sound like an extremist, but her views reflect the proposals of many Republican legislators. What makes the Republican cuts so alarming is that there are enough Republicans like Riddle in the House and Senate to pass these types of draconian cuts.
There's a reason Republicans haven't controlled the legislature for 130 years. Perhaps after the Republican cuts are enacted, the voters of Texas will decide they shouldn't control it for another 130 years.
Malcolm is chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party.
Even if they went through the Democrat's proposed stretching of high school through two years of community college, they still would only have a sixth grade education.
It never happened. Catchy headline, but it's all smoke and no fire.
For whatever it's worth ( take it as empirical data from just a small town ) that "for the sake of our children" spin has been a laughingstock for at least 4 or 5 years on talk radio.
I guess only greedy democrats get to decide what is fair.
What do you suppose the reaction would have been from the Democratic Party of Texas if the paper had printed that unabashedly partisan a broadside against a Democrat? Do you suppose they would have smiled and said, "Well, freedom of the press and all that" --? Or would they have organized letter-writing campaigns, telephone outreach banks, and candlelight vigils in protest until Hell wouldn't have them?
If it weren't for the Internet and talk radio, stuff like this wouldn't even get a critical mention.
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"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote. "We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions. "
American public education began at the turn of the (I assume "Twentieth") Century?
First time I've heard that.
If Texans love this program so much, the Republicans should fund it with an endowment supported by voluntary tax deductible contributions. That way if Texans really want the program, they can donate to it.
Lesson of the day. Don't type on a strange keyboard in the dark.
Check the schools in your area and see if this is going into effect. It certainly is being done in California and I'm sure elsewhere. It began in earnest as soon as Hillary's universal health care cratered.
As a nice tie-in to medical for the children, family doctor's were enlisted after Colombine to ask children if there where guns in their homes - it is considered a mental health issue according to Al, Tipper and all "caring" Democrats. The Left never lets an opportunity pass them by.
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