RE-POST - Richards Report - Public school funding, voucher school expansion and BadgerCare up next week,May 30, 2013

Representative Jon Richards - District 19

Public school funding, voucher school expansion and BadgerCare up next week

Dear Neighbor,

On Tuesday, the Joint Finance Committee will likely be determining funding for public schools, a proposed expansion of voucher schools, health care funding and tax relief. I will be standing with public schools, property taxpayers, people who need affordable health care and the middle class.

At a bare minimum, funding for public schools needs to be increased by at least $275 per pupil—an amount that would restore half the damage that was caused by the last budget’s historic cuts to public schools. Instead of looking to expand vouchers, we need to be making the programs in Milwaukee and Racine more accountable to parents, students and taxpayers. When it comes to the health of our state, taking the federal health care funding offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is simply the right thing to do; it will make Wisconsin healthier and it’s a good deal for our taxpayers. We could save $120 million in this budget and cover 100,000 more people on BadgerCare, compared to what Governor Walker proposed. And on the issue of tax relief, any plan to cut income taxes needs to provide relief targeted directly to the middle class, not those who are already well-off.

Today in the State Capitol we are hearing rumblings that my colleagues in the majority have struck a ‘deal’ amongst themselves on public and voucher schools. According to news reports, their plan would provide public schools an additional $150 per pupil, give voucher schools an additional $558 per pupil, expand the school voucher program statewide and raise property taxes, among other things. On health care, I expect they will reject federal financing provided under the ACA for political reasons. And on taxes, Republicans have offered a flat tax plan that provides a disproportionate share of the benefits to people making over $224,000 at the expense of middle-class taxpayers.

Between now and Tuesday, I will be doing all I can to encourage my Republican colleagues to abandon their misguided plans and to stand with Wisconsin’s middle class.

As always, please feel to contact my office with any questions, concerns or suggestions.