West Virginia state lawmakers pass bill to dismantle Department of Education and Arts

[laserhaas]

Source: The HILL

Link to tweet

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Lawmakers in West Virginia have voted to dismantle the state's Department of Education and the Arts just days after the longest teachers' strike in the state's history ended.

West Virginia Metro News reports that a bill dismantling the agency and spinning off some offices to other parts of state government passed Saturday and will now head to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice (R).

Among other provisions, the bill would eliminate the position of state Secretary of Education and the Arts, which is currently held by Gayle Manchin, wife of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).

The bill passed the state House by a vote of 60-36, with Democrats opposing the plan that they say will destroy public funding for the arts in the state.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/377777-west-virginia-state-lawmakers-pass-bill-to-dismantle-department-of?amp&__twitter_impression=true

[Iliyah]

1. Therefore, making WV dumber . . .

GOP's plan all along.

[laserhaas]

2. Pathetic plan

Who is in charge - really?

[joshdawg]

8. Yep.

Appears that WV has a bunch of drooling, mouth-breathing knuckledraggers in their state government...... AKA republicans.

[secondwind]

3. Trying to keep them in the mines. 😡

[KY_EnviroGuy]

12. And others well supplied with illicit drugs.

Let's hope the good folks in WV give these guys the big boot.

..... ............

[Chipper Chat]

4. that's right WV bullies -

Take it out on arts and music. Make your kids more uncultured. Assholes.

[laserhaas]

5. Have to maintain the -'Red Neck' -

status quo

[not fooled]

10. unfortunately

children of well-to-do families will continue to have plenty of exposure to the arts. The mouth-breathing GOPeePeers in the state house are punishing only the poor. And educators.

Oh, and showing themselves to be small-minded vindictive petty assholes. Of course, they are emulating the behavior of justurd's idol donnie.


WHY do people keep electing pukes???????????

[Chipper Chat]

14. So I'll wait for the WV legislature to pass

A bill ENDING ALL FUNDING OF high school sports. To save money of course..
.
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crickets.....silence....tap fjngertips..

[AwakeAtLast]

21. Happens. Every. Time!

This Music Teacher is tired of being scapegoated for all teachers!

[Vinca]

6. WTF is wrong with these people? Coal mining is the past. They need education!!

[underpants]

7. Does this involve Tamarack??

Having family in WV we make the trip every few years. Tamarack is a big rest stop off 64 that highlights and sells WV made arts - mostly folksy stuff.

[Angry Dragon]

9. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!!

[njhoneybadger]

11. Absolutely horrible

[MineralMan]

13. "We Don't Need No Education!"

That'd make a terrific song lyric, eh?

[Ohiogal]

18. Ya beat me to it, MM!

[malthaussen]

15. Making West Virginia great again? n/t

[Firestorm49]

16. Oh so typical

While hard working dedicated teachers of our children had to fight a good fight for a pittance more pay, Republicans now fight back in the most cowardly way possible to extract their revenge, while desperately not wanting to lose sight of the 80% of wealth that flew like a rocket to the top 1% last year. Money for dedicated workers, blasphemy! Cowardly bastards they are. This is yet another sign of the perilous condition of our democracy. I detest what’s happening to my country.

Having been in business for thirty six years, I read more business books than I can remember. A common theme was how to empower your staff, reward good work, retain the best, and grow your business. I’m almost afraid to look at what’s being written now. Chapter titles now must read: How to screw your people to maximize your profit. Foolproof ways to avoid pay raises. How to get away with not having pay benefits. How to automate to rid pesky staff.
“ Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat people well enough so they don’t want to.” Sir Richard Branson. A hero in my view.

[Bengus81]

17. And they think Kansas is bad??

[Staph]

19. Unbunch your panties -- here's the real story....

There is a Department of Education, and a Department of Education and the Arts. The Department of Education, which covers all public schools, adult education and technical education, is still there.

The Department of Education and the Arts, covers six different agencies - the Division of Culture and History, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, the Center for Professional Development, the West Virginia Library Commission, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and Volunteer WV, the state's Commission for National and Community Service. All of this agencies will be moved to other departments within state government. One layer of administration will be removed from state government. And the Secretary, Gayle Manchin (Senator Joe's wife) will be out of a job.

So thank you all for your concern for the poor people of West Virginia. And next time, try to not to stereotype so hard!

[Matthew28]

20. This is the same mind

set that we have been fighting in the middle east for 17 years,. Yep, make them a bunch of dumb religious nut cases that attack everything the west has stood on.

The republican party is the enemy of civilization.