School Vouchers and Low Life Tactics

Sometimes when you turn over a rock something disgusting crawls out.

Having seen a lot, some times too much, of the under belly of Kentucky politics I can usually understand, if not respect a purely political tactic. But here’s one that makes my stomach churn.

I got an email yesterday from a friend of mine that has an autistic child. Autism is an epidemic effecting 1 of 150 kids and is overwhelming school districts nationwide. My friend and spouse have spent over $150,000.00 to get their child in a school system with adequate services.

They have done everything they can do to give their child a chance including seeking as much information on the disease as possible.

They subscribe to the KYAUTISM@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU , which brings us to low life political tactics.

The outrage in their email to me was tangible. Here was what set them off.

From: KYAUTISM - Ky Autism Discussion List [mailto:KYAUTISM@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU] On Behalf Of Hoskins, Irene (EPPC OOS OLS)Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 3:20 PMTo: KYAUTISM@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU

Subject: [KYAUTISM] Do You Support Having House Bill 30 (Special Needs Schooling) Debated in Frankfort?

At Today’s Rally in Frankfort:

House Bill 30 is the bill allowing parents of special needs children to take certain federal monies that come into the state and use them for funding for their children at ANY private or public school of their choice (schools lose no local or state funding – they only lose the federal money that comes into the door with that particular student. If that student wasn’t enrolled there, they wouldn’t get that money even now.).

- Rep. Stan Lee, bill sponsor, indicated the following:

- The bill is “stuck in committee.” That means the pros and cons of such a program will not even be brought up for discussion within the Education Committee, much less be voted out of that committee and onto the House floor to be debated by all the Kentucky Legislators. If you want it to get a hearing in the House Education Committee, then you must contact at least the two below listed House leadership persons as soon as possible. It is very close to being too late to get the bill heard.

- If you do it by phone, call toll free 800-372-7181 and tell the receptionist that you want a message left with these individuals regarding your support for House Bill 30.

- If you do it by email, go to www.lrc.ky.gov, find the below listed House legislators and leave your written message supporting House bill 30.

The Legislators are:
(1) Chair of the House Education Committee: Frank Rasche (McCracken County)
(2) House Speaker: Jody Richards (Warren County)

It also helps to contact other Education Committee members and your personal Legislators, but these TWO are leadership and make the call as to whether a particular bill gets to be debated within committee (which must be done before it can be sent out of committee to be considered by the full House membership).

To obtain a very detailed free booklet outlining the economics of the bill and how it helps school districts financially while still allowing parental choice, contact the Bluegrass Institute, 270-782-2140, www.bipps.org and ask for “Enable the Disabled: An Analysis of the Kentucky Students with Special Needs Scholarship Program.”

And this:

From: KYAUTISM - KY Autism Discussion List
[mail to:KYAUTISM@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU] On Behalf Of Dana Emmitt-Hall

Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 3:43 PM

To: KYAUTISM@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDUSubject: [KYAUTISM] Feb20Rally-Special needs vouchers

Rally to Support:

Kentucky Students with Special Needs Scholarship Program

When: 10 am (EST) on Tuesday, February 20

Where: Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort

Parents of special-needs children in Kentucky need more educational options.
Fortunate parents in other states have access to scholarships and choices that enable them to provide the education and services their special-needs children require.

Why don’t Kentucky’s families have the same opportunities? Currently, the absence of options forces parents to hire lawyers, participate in lengthy and adversarial mediation processes and wade through mountains of red tape to get the help their kids need.

For this reason, State Reps. Stan Lee, David Floyd, Jim DeCesare & Mike Harmon support a change in the state’s policy during the 2007 session of the Kentucky General Assembly that offers the parents of Kentucky’s 109,000 special-needs children more – and better – options. Read the supporting documentation at www.bipps.org/685.

However, powerful forces, including the Kentucky Education Association (KEA) – and others – are determined to deny Kentucky parents … especially those who have special-needs children … from obtaining a better education and a brighter future for their children.

THIS RALLY IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR KENTUCKY PARENTS TO TELL THEIR LEGISLATORS HOW STRONGLY THEY SUPPORT POLICIES THAT PUT OUR STATE’S NEEDIEST CHILDREN FIRST.

Mark your calendar now to attend this important rally.

For more information please call:

Rep. Stan Lee at 859-259-2202 or Jim Waters at 270-782-2140.

So what’s the problem here? These guys are trying to help kids with autism, right?

Wrong.

This is a bill aimed at destroying public education. This bill is designed to increase the distance between the haves and the have not. This is a favorite of neo-conservatives, school vouchers.

What makes me want to toss my cookies on this one is that guys like Stan Lee, Jim DeCesare and the neo-cons at the Bluegrass Institute would use desperate parents to fuel a political agenda.

Shame on such low life political tactics.