A letter from Rick Perry to Texas Teachers

[johncoby2]

Office of the Governor Austin Capitol Building P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711

Reference: An open letter to the Teachers of the great State of Texas

Texas Teachers,

As you know the end of the special session to address public school financing is coming quickly and much has been accomplished. Unfortunately there is a great deal of misinformation about what has been achieved. I hope this letter will resolve these issues.

Our teachers and public education system is by far the most important asset to our children in the State of Texas, unfortunately, this special session was not about public education or teachers as many believe. Instead it was about the successful shifting of taxes from homeowners to businesses, which we accomplished. Although homeowners will see a reduction in rates, businesses will pass the additional taxes to the very same homeowners.

In the end, this will not provide any new funding for education, which means no raises or additional funding for our schools. This can be accomplished at a later date after we distribute the $8 billion surplus back to the taxpaying citizens of the State.

None of this should surprise you. Since I have been in office, teachers have been of very low priority for many reasons. First, you do not vote. Many teachers are not even registered to vote. And most important, those who do vote, vote for me regardless of the abuse I have dished out. Under my leadership, we have reduced your health care stipend, cut funding for your schools, promoted school privatization, and refused to provide a meaningful raise. Yet, you still vote for me.

Also the teachers of the state cannot compete with my campaign donors such as Jim Leininger, homebuilder Bob Perry, and the many groups claiming to advocate for “Texans” such as Texans for Lawsuit Reform. These individuals can not only donate millions to my reelection fund, they can run slick and grossly distorted ads across Texas, touting my leadership and praising our advancement of privatizing public education. The teachers of the state cannot afford to lobby public opinion especially on the wages the state provides.

The bottom line is that teachers did not put me in office, my special interest groups did and they are not advocates of the public school system. Therefore you should not expect much more than what has been provided.

I have been a public servant for all my adult life and will leave office with a retirement package of over $100,000 a year, far greater than any teacher pension, but I will leave when I decide. Until the teachers of this state start voting they can continue to expect the same abuse and neglect, if not worse, from my office.

Although this letter may seem harsh, and it is, someone had to say what was really on my mind and how I felt about public education and our teachers.

Your truly,
Rick Scary.

[Maestro]

1. As a teacher and administrator in Irving ISD

I absolutely love this letter. My superintendent would laugh his arse off at reading this but at the same time cry.

[Lithos]

2. Republican logic

Our teachers and public education system is by far the most important asset to our children in the State of Texas, unfortunately, this special session was not about public education or teachers as many believe. Instead it was about the successful shifting of taxes from homeowners to businesses, which we accomplished. Although homeowners will see a reduction in rates, businesses will pass the additional taxes to the very same homeowners.

Course what he really doesn't tell you is that most businesses will take advantage of one loophole or another and some of the money will remain in someone's (who doesn't need it) pockets and will not go back into the school's coffers.

Also doesn't address the issue of property taxes for businesses and property for investment purposes. The bit about "homeowner" is just deceptive labeling. Again what he's doing is a regressive tax adjustment.

L-