No one personifies Idaho Republicans' love-hate relationship with federal stimulus dollars more than Tom Luna.
The state's school superintendent recognizes that the money might cover all (or most) of the potential cuts in public education budgets.
The money has allowed Luna to table most of the self-proclaimed "bad ideas" he had proposed to cut $62 million from the schools budgets — including a plan to reduce school staff salaries by the equivalent of three school days, and a plan to change the school busing reimbursement, which would have dealt a $1.45 million hit on Boise schools.
But in a Statesman editorial board meeting Tuesday, Luna wouldn't second-guess Idaho's congressional delegation, which voted against the Obama administration's $787 billion economic stimulus law that figures to put more than $200 million into Idaho schools. As a father and grandfather, Luna said he was concerned with the debt the plan will leave for future generations.
At the end of our meeting, Luna came back to the issue to take a much more partisan line. "Elections have consequences. He won. The Democrat Party is in charge. So I think the only thing we can do now is be responsible in how we spend these dollars."
Luna has brushed aside rumors that he's considering a run for Congress. On this issue, he sounds like he'd fit right in with Capitol Hill Republicans.
Click here for audio from the interview.
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Damned if you do damned if you don't
Luna is staying true to his philosophical principles when he makes statements about being concerned about the future of this stimulus package decision. I support his view and what he is facing. I believe too he will be responsible with the funds and make sure that the needs of students and teachers are taken care of as a first priority. He has done that from the beginning of his administration. It would not have mattered what party was represented in the superintendent's chair the outcome would have been the same, reductions would have to be made if not for the stimulus bill. Implementing it does not mean you agree with every piece of the stimulus legislation. I believe too had an education stimulus bill been presented it would have had more holistic support from Congress. Nobody wants to sacrifice education.
Yes, a great Alan Parsons tune, isn't it?
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To read is wonderful. To comprehend art. Falling back to whatever you believed in is NORMAL.
Richert=Partisan Bafoon
As with anything controled by our fed government the public school system is inefficient, rewards failure, and is only succesful at creating more bloated buracracy. How far we've strayed from our founders. Obama is using hand outs like human traffikers use heroin, to make people dependant and accept their slavery(Socialism). Wake up Idaho, don't let the Progressive media kooks rot you from the inside, or you'll wake up Kookifornia one day.
BUFFOON. He's a nice buffoon though, and don't forget it!
Sheesh, children let's learn how to spell our insults. Kevin is hardly the problem right now.
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To read is wonderful. To comprehend art. Falling back to whatever you believed in is NORMAL.
Education and Principled Leadership
While I agree Mr. Luna is staying on the (R) side of the aisle, I see no rejection by any State Officials of the funding nor do I see any reason to NOT continue to budget as if we did not participate in these government handouts. At least Gov Otter is looking at the issue as a temporary aid and not the long term solution. As Ford Motor Company opted not to take the handouts, while GM and Chrysler did, are we doing any favors to our State by accepting the handouts? Are we not simply delaying what surely will, in the end, result in budget cuts. We must continue to cut budgets accross the board at ALL levels of government (including education administration), these funds are temporary, actual tax revenue shortfalls are here to stay as we foreclose more homes and use less fuel and change our spending habits. It will take at least five more years or more for our economy to fully recover, (using history as a guage). I, for one, am frustrated by the hypocrisy of our elected officials; criticize publicly while the hand is outstretched taking the Federal dollars. I think the proposed cuts should stay and we use the fed money only as needed. Regrdless of the fed handout, we must get our State spending under control. It is time for principled leadership (no pun intended)
Priorities
I believe it is very important to look at long term budget cuts, and to make sure that this is a situation we learn from. Where I disagree wholeheartedly is that our State leadership does not see education as a priority. I can think of many, many, many did I say many areas that our budget is going to some farmer-legislator's pet project that should be cut instead of education.