Friday, May 15, 2009

Another Democrat hoping against HOPE

The state's most powerful labor union is pushing a constitutional amendment which would require Oklahoma to meet or exceed the regional average in per-pupil expenditures. "Polling shows that initial support for the measure is strong," the state's largest newspaper pointed out today. "This will quickly erode as voters grasp how devastating it would be."

Some voters have already grasped it. And not just conservatives. The president of the Oklahoma City affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, has already warned of the damage HOPE would cause. So has another staunch public-school booster, an esteemed Oklahoma economist who warns that HOPE's baleful consequences would be "profound and lasting."

Comes now state Rep. Scott Inman (D-Del City), a school-choice opponent and a strong supporter of public education. Rep. Inman was recently chosen by House Democrats as their next leader designate, succeeding House Democratic leader Danny Morgan. Peter J. Rudy of Oklahomans for Responsible Government reports that today in legislative debate Rep. Inman said he opposes the HOPE initiative.

Expect more opposition, especially from the left, as the 2010 vote on HOPE draws near.

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