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| INFORMATION ALERT |
| State Rep. Mike O'Brien |
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April 11, 2012
Corbett should admit the truth about education funding
You know the old adage. When you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you. This proverb could not be more true where Gov. Corbett and public education is concerned.
He took to the airwaves on news Talk Radio 1210 WPHT today to tell Pennsylvanians they should blame local school boards for education cuts and higher taxes, not him. He also said his administration is funding public schools at record levels.
Here are the facts. The governor's 2012-13 budget plan reduces public education by $100 million on top of his $1 billion cut from last year. And just like last year, his latest budget will result in more teacher layoffs; cuts to arts; cuts to early education; cuts to full-day kindergarten; and cuts to other valuable instructional programs.
And while the governor goes around blaming school boards for raising taxes, his own administrators just gave 197 school districts the OK to raise taxes above the 1.7 percent index allowed by law – because they can’t meet their educational costs due to last year’s cuts. Hundreds more school boards will likely raise taxes up to the 1.7 percent index to cover funding cuts, as well. His words would be comical if his actions weren’t so horrifying.
You can learn more about the real consequences of Gov. Corbett’s budget plan at www.hacd.net. In the meantime, I will continue calling him out where his so-called facts are concerned.