Virginia News Headlines: Tuesday Morning

Virginia Senate Dems "Oppose Massive Cuts to Public Education" (0.00 / 0)

Senate Democrats Oppose Massive Cuts to Public Education
Governor McDonnell Also Proposes Funding Transportation with K-12 Funds and Giving Corporate Tax Credits for Private Schools

(Richmond, VA) In his introduced budget, Gov. McDonnell proposed deep cuts to K-12 public education and pre-kindergarten.

Aside from hundreds of millions in cuts to K-12, other proposed programs by the Governor would lead to even deeper cuts:  One provides $10 million in tax credits for corporations that donate money to private schools.  Another program increases the amount of the state sales tax that would go to transportation. Governor McDonnell also proposed to cut pre-K funds by $82 million and the "cost of compete" stipend which helps jurisdictions recruit school personnel by $65 million which will mostly be felt by Northern Virginia.

"Governor McDonnell is the most anti-public education Governor of the 10 I have served under in the last 36 years," said Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw.   "There is no way we should be taking money out of public education in order to give corporations tax credits for donating money to private schools or paving roads."    

"There are not 21 votes in the Senate supporting these massive cuts in public education" said Caucus Chair Donald McEachin.  "Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring children in Virginia receive the best education possible."

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by: lowkell @ Tue Dec 20, 2011 at 20:22:53 PM UTC