Need help with information re: Wisconsin (R)'s cutting education costs to refute a friend

[WillParkinson]

I have a friend who is a cop. Today we were discussing politics (which we seldom do) and I made the comment about the Republicans cutting the education budget. He counters that it wasn't REALLY cutting the budget as now that teachers have to pay a portion of their insurance and pension and the cities do not have to do it the districts actually have MORE money than before if they spend it on education.

I think it's doublespeak but could use solid evidence if anyone has anything good.

Thank you kindly.

[PeaceNikki]

1. uh

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/29/wisconsin.teacher.layoffs/

(CNN) -- In a budget-cutting move likely to be echoed around the country, Milwaukee Public Schools said Wednesday it will lay off 519 staff members -- including 354 teachers -- because of $84 million in state cuts and the system's efforts to control costs.

Superintendent Gregory Thornton also said schools will likely see larger class sizes and the continued use of older textbooks. The state budget cut means $200 less per child, officials said.

The layoffs are effective Friday, the beginning of the third quarter, when cash-strapped state and local governments are forecast to shed up to 110,000 jobs, according to IHS Global Insight.

Thornton said he was "extremely troubled" that most of the affected teachers are in elementary schools.
"Children are being caught in the middle," Thornton told reporters. "They deserve better."

That's one district.

[Pharaoh]

2. Yup

campaigned on creating jobs and he is instead creating more unemployment. Not to mention giving back to the Feds 830 million for high speed rail (that is mainly about wanting Obama to fail at any cost to the American people) which would have been a boon to the state and create lots of jobs.He is taking a wrecking ball to this state and the red parts of the state are oblivious to this.

[PeaceNikki]

3. Arguing with these idiots is pointless. They will always frame the discussion in lies.

Walker slashed funding and ended collective bargaining to set districts up like this. They can now claim it's the union's fault for the cuts because they won't concede on the negotiations despite the fact they've ALREADY conceded.

[WillParkinson]

4. My friend is actually one who will listen...

He will also try to educate himself if you present him with evidence of some sort. He's not a closed minded person and we've had many exchanges where he admitted he needed to know more about something (marriage equality for example).

[PeaceNikki]

5. Rare and sorry for lumping your friend in with the assholes.

[ewagner]

6. He's eating his own seed-corn..

When we're losing manufacturing jobs and need to retrain the displaced workers, Walker cut funding to the Technical Schools and Colleges by over 30%. So where are workers going to get training for the new "...250,000 jobs" that Walker swears he will create.

And as far as k-12 education goes...the cut is over $1B and having the teachers and administrators pick up the other 5.8% of their pension doesn't even come close to being the "tool" that Walker said would make up for the cuts.

Short version: Walker is a liar.

[dembotoz]

7. layoffs all over the place

cuts in money from the state sent to schools

AND and this is a big and

limits to what a local government can do to make up the difference.

double edge sword

[HelenWheels]

8. Local government in a bind

The "tools" Walker gave local school boards to raise money is limited to cutting more pay and jobs from teachers. They are not allowed to raise property taxes.