Jeb Bush agenda to resurrect school vouchers and repeal small classes re-emerges

[seafan]

It doesn't matter that the Florida Supreme Court struck down Jeb Bush's private school vouchers as unconstitutional; it doesn't matter that the legislature and the voters have spoken to reduce class sizes; even after being forced out of the Governor's mansion, Jeb Bush never quits.



Vouchers and class caps may go on ballot

BY GARY FINEOUT
Jul. 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE --
Florida voters could be asked next year to alter class-size requirements and preserve private-school vouchers.

An obscure panel with the power to place constitutional amendments directly on the 2008 ballot has been asked to consider dealing with these two controversial education items. Former Gov. Jeb Bush tried to get Florida lawmakers to act on both, but he was blocked in the state Senate by a coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats.

Now the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which meets every 20 years, may take the matter directly to voters. Commission members on Friday were asked by education lobbyists and a private think tank to craft proposals on class size and vouchers.
Allan Bense, a former House speaker and the Panama City Republican who is now chairman of the commission, said either item could be dealt with by the commission since both affect state spending. ''Education clearly affects the budget, and this is clearly an education issue,'' he said.

``Members of this commission are bringing this up for discussion, not me, so we should discuss it.''

Voters approved class-size restrictions in 2002 over Bush's strident opposition. So far Florida has spent roughly $10 billion to hire additional teachers and build new classrooms to meet the requirements. But the strict caps called for in the amendment won't be in place until 2010.

.....

The commission, which has 25 voting members, needs just 17 votes to put a constitutional amendment directly on the 2008 ballot. Several members of the commission are former top aides to Bush, who tried unsuccessfully to get the Legislature to preserve vouchers and to change the class-size amendment.

But the talk of undoing class size and vouchers drew a swift rebuke from the lawyer who persuaded the Supreme Court to topple Bush's voucher plan.

''It's a last gasp of Gov. Jeb Bush to do this from beyond the grave,'' said Ron Meyer.

Wonder if the "think tank" behind this push to continue Jeb's agenda is none other than Jeb's own think tank, *Foundation for Florida's Future*..... it's probably a safe bet.



Jeb Bush is bad news for government By And For The People.


And he thinks he is bred to rule.




(bold type added)

[SoFlaJet]

1. we took our kids OUT of the Florida public school system

not long after 9/11....coincidence?

[JCMach1]

5. I took myself out as a teacher...

I knew the score...

[1monster]

2. And here is where the GOP kicked itself in the posterior. A ballot initiative

to change the State Constitution used to win with a simple majority vote.

However, things that the GOP didn't like, such as the classroom cap, kept getting on the ballot and passing.

So, an initiative that the GOP strongly supported was put on the ballot. That initiative stated that in order for a ballot initiative to pass and amend the state contitution, it would have to pass with 60% majority.

Considering that we, the voters, put caps on the number of children in a classroom in the first place, what makes these yahoos think we will undo those caps and in such numbers that it will pass with 60% of the vote.

Oh yeah, I forgot. They own the voting counting machines.

[bluestateguy]

3. Would a radical Islamic madrassa be eligible for money?

Would a private school that discriminates on the basis of race, religion or disability be allowed to accept vouchers?

What happens to the public schools when all of the most talented students leave for private schools, and the public schools are left as a "dumping ground" for the worst students?


These are just some of the questions that the voucher crowd has failed to answer.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Note that these go hand in hand to wreck public education.

Increase class sizes to decrease quality and increase dissatisfaction and then defund even further through private school vouchers. These guys as sick twisted bastards and we are idiots for falling for their crap.

[dkofos]

6. Jeb bush, still trying to fuck up Florida.

Kinda sounds like a campaign slogan.