Thursday, July 17, 2008

'Enough is never enough'

The state's largest school-employee labor union is planning an initiative petition to amend the state constitution, The Oklahoman reports today. The union wants to require (you'll never guess!) more spending for public schools.

Rural lawmaker Jeff Hickman points out that the union's plan will result in the forced consolidation of rural schools. Budget leader Tad Jones adds: "The OEA's proposed constitutional amendment would result in at least one of the following outcomes: a massive tax increase at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, consolidation of schools, or devastating cuts to vital government services such as roads and law enforcement."

OCPA has pointed out that Oklahoma taxpayers are already paying Casady prices for our public schools. Union officials know this but they don't want you to know it, which is why they refuse to debate OCPA on the matter. Not that it matters how much money we give them. As the state's largest newspaper has pointed out, "for the OEA, enough is never enough."

I don't expect the union's effort will be any more successful than their recent frivolous lawsuit (tax hikes are an absolute nonstarter, and you can ask Gov. Largent how popular rural school consolidation is), but it's worth keeping an eye on.

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