Posted on 01/24/2007 9:19:43 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Wednesday for tax-free learning savings accounts for every student in the country as part of an ambitious package of anti-poverty initiatives developed by a mayors task force he chaired.
The plan was to be formally unveiled Thursday at the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, but Villaraigosa gave a preview during a speech at the National Press Club.
"This is a downpayment on America's future we can no longer afford to postpone," said Villaraigosa.
The main points of the plan included:
-A tax-free learning account for every student, with the government chipping in matching funds of up to $500 per student per year. Villaraigosa estimated that every student could have $30,000 by the time they turn 18 to invest in education.
-New investments in pre-kindergarten education.
-Retooling schools to teach kids vocational job skills relevant to the global workplace in fields such as graphic design, information technology and health care. States and local governments would commit up to $650 per student for schools adopting a high-quality, standards-based career academy curriculum.
-Raising the minimum wage, as already approved this month by the House of Representatives.
-Expanding the earned income tax credit.
Villaraigosa declined to put a precise price tag on his plan, saying that would be revealed Thursday. "The cost is in the billions; the dividends are in the trillions," he said.
Villaraigosa said poverty and poor education are interconnected and must be addressed in tandem.
More than 250 mayors from around the country gathered at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., this week for the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors coinciding with the start of the new Democrat-controlled Congress. They were discussing issues including energy, crime, climate change, affordable housing, poverty and education and hearing from a number of lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
how about....stop importing poor people from all of North, Central and South America to Los Angeles? Just a thought.
Which, of course, would be administered by the schools, therefore it's a "right", and therefore to be given out -- drum roll -- to any student regardless of "status".
IOW, just another way to hand over gringo cash to the citizens of Mexico.
Gosh...equality at the expense of liberty. What a concept.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Good idea. They can spend it on a private education to learn what they should have been taught in government schools.
during the war on poverty, in the 1960's, a car in front of mine, on the highway, carried the following bumper sticker on its' rear bumper....
"i fight povery. i work."
Good idea. They can spend it on a private education to learn what they should have been taught in government schools.
But... since "Government money" will be involved, the ACLU will sue to make sure that the money cannot used for many private schools (those with religious affiliations).
Bump for later reading
read Villaraigosa’s latest nonsense tonight BUMP!
Yeah, that’s what I figured, it will go to pay union salaries and union dues and right back into the Democrats campaign fund.
Better idea, go back to Mexico and get educated there.
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