A former Lieutenant Governor says Texas needs a better way to fund public schools.
A full-page ad in Saturday's Austin American-Statesman is attention getting. It was created by Raise Your Hand Texas, a non-profit made up of business and community leaders from around the state. The ad goes against cutting public education spending. It ran in a number of Texas newspapers this past weekend.
Former Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff is one of those lending a voice to the organization.
“The legislature needs to recognize the damage that's going to be done here,” Ratliff said.
“You cannot take $1,000 per child out of public education and not have a dramatic negative impact, so we think it's time for the parents of this state to stand up and be heard.”
Ratliff believes a business tax enacted by lawmakers in 2006 is the biggest reason why Texas is facing tough financial times.
“It was supposed to dollar-for-dollar make up for the mandated reduction in property taxes on the local level. The state missed that estimate by $5 billion a year,” Ratliff said. “I think the smart thing to do is to go in to the tax bill that was enacted in 2006 and fix it.”
The Raise Your Hand Texas ad comes when more and more people are taking a stand against school budget cuts. Thousands rallied at the State Capitol a few weeks ago, saying legislators need to find the money to make sure teachers do not lose their jobs, and Texas students get the education they deserve.
Scott McCown with the Center for Public Policy Priorities believes ads like Raise Your Hand Texas' ad will help fuel the outcry against severe cuts in public education and other areas outlined in the Texas House version of the budget.
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/A-former-lawmaker-says-no-to-cutting-public-education-118801124.html