Last updated on 2012.03.19
In a flagrant act of public fallacio, Governor Daugaard persuaded the slimmest possible majority of his good GOP soldiers to pass his education reform package yesterday.
But first, let us acknowledge the good and brave legislators who spoke truth to power yesterday. The final House floor debate on HB 1234 included rousing speeches on the failures of this policy and the ideologically-blindered process that led to it.
Democrat Frank Kloucek and Republican Stace Nelson offered stinging critiques of a Republican party violating its own principles of smaller government and local control. (Please, District 19, strongly consider keeping these two men as your voices in the House.)
Rep. Bernie Hunhoff declared HB 1234 an attack on education, a paltry charade following the massive and permanently harmful cuts wrought on our K-12 schools last year. Rep. Hunhoff made clear that we're still passing a big, drastic solution without taking time to identify what problem, if any, we are trying to solve.
Rep. Elaine Elliott spoke from forty years of experience as a teacher in the classroom. With deep passion and concern for our public schools, she declared that "We are not going to attract the best and the brightest teachers with this bill. We're going to drive them away." I can't tell if the tears were in her eyes or just in mine... maybe both.
Rep. Scott Munsterman rose to change his vote from the last go-round. He highlighted the absence of study and evidence backing HB 1234. Citing his own homework, he listed a dozen or so of the South Dakota schools with the best ACT scores and asked rhetorically what makes those schools successful. The question stands, because, said Rep. Munsterman, we don't know. We haven't studied those schools to ask what really works. (I can tell you this: none of those top-achieving South Dakota has merit pay. None of those schools have ended continuing contract.)
Things got a little loopy as Rep. Lora Hubbel followed up on Rep. Shawn Tornow's odd goose-chase down the trail of challenging the constitutionality of HB 1234 for addressing more than one issue. (I don't want to gripe too hard, since Hubbel and Tornow both defied the leadership with wise nays... but I'll leave the constitutional challenge to their camp.)
Then rose Governor Daugaard's minions to wish, hope, and lie to us. I heard most supporters of the bill go out of their way to avoid mentioning the specifics of the bill and instead throw up a great smokescreen about compromise, change, and even President Obama.
Yes, Obama. I believe it was Rep. David Lust who said he couldn't understand why Democrats would get so riled about HB 1234 when it actually includes policies that President Obama himself is pushing. Rep. Lust probably struggles to understand this point because, unlike him and the rest of Governor Daugaard's minions, we Democrats don't believe that we have to blindly support everything our leaders say. We believe that when our leaders propose bad policy, as President Obama does on merit pay, we can tell the boss he's wrong.
Rep. Don Kopp and others recited a specious talking point about change. "I know that change can be hard from the beginning," said Rep. Kopp, "but change will come as times change." Rep. Kopp studiously avoided defending the specific nature of that change.
The Republican backers acknowledged that public opposition remained strong despite the changes made to the bill throughout February (still a smokescreen: the bill still has everything the Governor wanted), just with clarifications and more bureaucracy). The Republicans then dismissed that public criticism, saying that it's really just a problem of marketing. People just haven't had time to read the bill. They don't understand what's in it.
Um, Rep. Lust? I've read the bill. Every version. I know what's in it. So do thousands of other South Dakotans. We know what's in the bill. We know what's wrong.
But the Republicans voting for this bill can't face that fact. They can't allow themselves to believe they are hurting the schools. They can't allow themselves to believe they are acting against the will of the vast majority of their constituents. They thus have to argue themselves into their own safe little corners where everyone who disagrees with them is simply some ungrateful ignoramus.
The legislators voting for HB 1234 aren't just lying to us; they are lying to themselves.
HB 1234 is terrible policy. There is no evidence it will improve student achievement. There is no evidence there is even a problem for it to solve. If there is a problem, it is much more likely a product of a generation of neglect of education funding by Republican governors and legislators. That is why the vast majority of South Dakotans oppose it and will overturn it if it is put to a public vote (and believe me, the lines are abuzz with talk of referral).
Governor Daugaard will sign his flagship bill into law. But the conversation about HB 1234 is far from over. Stay tuned.
The latest rumor is that education will face 6% cut next year. This isn't just talk. It makes perfect sense because the feds will be cutting funding and the bill for Medicare will increase.
Anyone but me notice that Rick Santorum has approximately the same outlook on public education that Sibby has? I know politics makes for strange bedfellows sometimes, but I am reluctant to do much backslapping for those who may have voted right on this issue for the wrong reasons. I'm not up for giving those who would defund public education altogether any power whatsoever. It's a potentially treacherous alliance.
First a special note to Stace Nelson. Thank you Stace. I know we don’t agree on a lot of things but your vote yesterday shows that you really do care about the education of the kids in this state. I know I have given you a bad time about your views on other subjects, that wont change, but this time when you bucked the system you showed the backbone that few in the party that tried to hang you could.
Bernie great speech on the floor. To bad nobody was listening at that point.
I am so unhappy with the dog and pony show going on in Pierre. Even when the people have spoken the leaders want what they want when they want it. Honestly they all are acting like five year olds.
I know I should have expected this. When the governor said a week before he took office that the state was in great financial condition, well that was “lie #1†and there have been a thousand since that time.
I see this morning that the state workers will get a one time bonus. That’s great I think they probably need it. How about the same consideration for the educators of the state? Governor without the language skills the science and math that you are looking to enhance wont mean a damn thing. If you cant communicate with another person in a way that they can understand all the education in the science department wont do you any good.
This is for both the governor and the legislators that voted for this piece of crap legislation.http://grooveshark.com/s/Lie+number+1/2gHKKe?src=5
There are none so blind as those that choose not to see. Somehow I feel better about life now. The Blindman
"When the governor said a week before he took office that the state was in great financial condition, well that was “lie #1†and there have been a thousand since that time."
Actually that was the truth. The lie was last year's budget crisis. There was none. The 2012 budget has about a $150 million surplus. It was only a ploy to move money from common folks to wealthy business special interests. And they supported HB1234.
Sometimes words aren't enough for me. Not being a teacher I cant really say how they are feeling today but I think I have a pretty good idea.
This comes from the best musical talent to come out of the UK in fifty years, and she has the education credentials to prove it. Governor this is what happens when an education has been enriched by something other then math and science. This is just for you Governor. Stick in your outbox. http://grooveshark.com/s/Caught+Out/45lWdc?src=5
The Blindman
No Steve either he lied, or he was just that stupid.
He was a part of the previous administration. He had the figures so he should have known what the truth was. You can have your choice, either he was a liar or he was stupid. I dont really care which one you pick neither speak well for the man that has been elected to lead our state.
The Blindman
Bill, he is lying now. There was no budget crisis last year. The 2012 Budget has about a $150 million surplus. He is spending it on attaching South Dakota much more firmly to the global economy. In other words, he is handing the money over to the wealthy corporate special interests. That is what is not being talked about. If we have a financial crisis, where is the money coming from to give tax breaks to big corporations, $5 million to Manpower, $15 million in HB1234, $8.4 million for teacher training, $30 million in bonuses to government employees, adding $20 million to medicaid.....
“It’s not the place of this Legislature to override the will of the people,†said Rep. Don Kopp, R-Rapid City.
Unless of course its something that the governor and the GOP want.
Read more: http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/bill-changing-definition-of-domestic-violence-fails/article_c0bb256e-63ea-11e1-8287-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1ny7nuoe7
Cory, You are spot on on this issue. I'm beginning to worry that we are agreeing too much.
Special note about court jester Lust's statement: whenever a legislator tells you that you "don't understand," he is confirming that you have exposed his weakness. Let's just make Lust=loser in November.
You make me suspicious, Ed. Cory, anyone: how many lawyers in the legislature? Did Lust ever take on Gordon Howie?
Reps. Feinstein, Gosch, Hunt, Lust, Russell, (Steele, retired?) Tornow; Sen. Cutler, Nygaard: I count 8 out of 105 listing their current occupation as attorney.
Ed, I've seen this strange "agreement" thing several times in the past with other conservatives. when we get past the wacky stuff about socialism and the culture war and look at nuts-and-bolts policy that affects South Dakota directly, I can find a lot of common ground with folks who find themselves marginalized by the South Dakota power structure.
And yes, I'll be perfectly happy to help remove Lust from power (oh, the sloganeering possibilities), along with every other water-carrier for the Governor. The question is: with whom shall we replace them? Naturally, I'd prefer a Democratic majority. Naturally, you would not. I wonder how well things would work with a coalition majority of Democrats and Stace Nelsons?
I think that Rep. Jim Bolin (R) also deserves some praise her for being the First Republican to vocally oppose opposition to the Governors plan. Being a retired teacher one might think that those in his party would listen to him when he says it won't work. But then what would he know he only dedicated his life to working with children, until he retired last year.
Agreed, Jeff. Rep. Bolin was a consistent and vocal opponent of the bill, speaking truth to power. I hope all the other "no" voters on HB 1234 will campaign consistently against the bill this fall and promise to defund or entirely repeal it during the 2013 session.