The dark side of the delegation
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Megan S. Link
Published: March 9, 2008
The current General Assembly session has revealed the dark side of the majority of the members of the Prince William delegation to the the Virginia House of Delegates. Sadly, our freshman delegate, Paul Nichols, stands alone in the light as a true friend of public education.
During this session, it has been both disappointing and disturbing to witness delegates Jeff Frederick, Scott Lingamfelter, Bob Marshall and Jackson Miller favor House budget language that, if adopted, will successfully undermine future school dollars available for Prince William County by substantially altering the funding methodology for the Standards of Quality.
The scheme supported by Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller will axe $175 million a year from K-12 education beginning in 2010, and will have the immediate impact of reducing state support for salaries of school secretaries and instructional assistants by $78.8 million.
Apparently Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller have either forgotten or choose to ignore the fact that Virginia ranks 33rd in state per-pupil funding for public education. Why would any delegate deliberately choose to reduce public education spending? A pre-session poll conducted by Christopher Newport University indicated that Virginians view Education as their top priority. Yet delegates Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller have worked against the best interest of Prince William County’s children by voting to cut state funding for our schools. Does such action on their part REALLY represent the wishes of the majority of the voters in their respective districts?
I am angry NOW! Will you be angry AFTER your local taxes are increased to cover the shortfall in our local schools? Voters, please remember this sleight-of-hand attempt by the House of Delegates and respond accordingly in November 2009.
MEGAN S. LINK
Manassas
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Posted by ( phdee ) on March 11, 2008 at 10:21 am
zcx, most of the PWC members of the BOCS and school board are right wing Republicans. And republicans do love to spend—on their projects and for the wealthy. Check darling G W Bush for example.
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Posted by ( zcxnissan ) on March 10, 2008 at 11:49 pm
For God’s sake what has Nichols done other than agree with the spending crazed Governor? PWC has one of the highest ranked quality public school educations in the nation yet we have to increase spending on it? Where will the Governor and the State Senate make up their proposed transportation budget from. I can see no budget agreements and state government shutdowns in our near future. Chris Cummings
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Posted by ( basalt ) on March 09, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Unfortunately, we have elected several Delegates who wish not to lead but to pass the buck on to our local government. The state has a responsibility to fund its FAIR share of education. Our Delegates need to do what is necessary and if that means to raise state taxes for our schools and roads - SO BE IT!! I am tired of having my real estate taxes be responsible for everything. I won’t forget and as a constituent of Miller, I have contacted him many times on this issue and will continue to do so. Please contact your Delegate and tell him to govern not to pass the buck. Lord knows Mr. Stewart and his friends on the Board of Supervisors don’t know how to govern either. God help PWC. The election of November of 2009 can’t come soon enough. What has happened to all the good Republicans? Why have you left us with these delegates?
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Posted by ( phdee ) on March 09, 2008 at 1:42 pm
These are Republicans of thenotorious right wwing. What can you expect?
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