Strickland is wrong
Craig E. Barbee, Emporia
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
RECENTLY, the Citizens for Higher Education presented grades for our state legislators. During the League of Women Voters forum, Carol Strickland chastised Rep. Peggy Mast for not voting for every education-spending bill presented during the last session. One of the most important jobs of a legislator is to be the “Fiscal Guardian” of the taxpayer’s (YOUR) money.
For Strickland to imply that a representative of the 76th District should vote for every spending bill that is presented regardless of its value or merit is not only naïve but dangerous. Every legislative session multiple spending bills are presented for everything under the sun. Some of the bills have merit and would improve our education system, some would help our teachers with resources and proper compensation for the great work that they do. Others however, are simply not in the best interest of the students, the teachers, the administration or the taxpayers and SHOULD NOT be passed. When we elect someone to represent us in the state house, we must have someone that pays attention to the legislation and not just vote for everything that comes down the pike.
Being a state representative means being able to say NO every once in a while. Just like you and me, even if something sounds good and it might be good we might not be able to afford it this paycheck and we might have to wait. If we operated our personal finances like Strickland wants to control the state finances, we might find ourselves bouncing a few checks and that is not good for anyone. Giving in to the largest and only taxpayer-funded lobbying group in the state, every time they want our lunch money, will only result in them asking for more next time.
Craig E. Barbee
Emporia
slimbolen99 (anonymous) says...
Then why do the republicans critisize those who vote against funding for the iraq war? Isn't that what the Republicans in the house and senate have been criticizing those who vote against funding the iraq war? You're saying that "being a state representative means being able to say NO every once in a while", yet you throw fits and call us unpatriotic when we say no to funding a war that should have never been started in the first place.
October 28, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
situveux1 (anonymous) says...
Um, not to mention that you're talking about U.S. Reps and Senators voting for war funding and Mast is a STATE Rep. So, glad I could clear that up for you.
October 29, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Just what we need, some one that votes yes to every school funding bill. Our top issues and tax drains in Kansas are education, and health care/insurance issues. Just think, if we elect the former teacher, we'll likely have a doctor, pharmacist, and a retired teacher and some will still wonder why their taxes are going up.
I overheard her speaking with a local farmer who told her he had just finished planting his wheat. She replied "I didn't know wheat was planted in the fall?"
If we keep sending people to Topeka and Washington that are running to serve their special interests or profession, we'll just get more of the same tax and spend no progress representation.
I'll be voting for Mast and her experience in Topeka. If you have visited her at the Capital, you would understand why I made my choice. She is there to serve you, glad to see you, and will follow thru with your issue. Thank you Rep. Mast.
October 30, 2008 at 6:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Didn't know wheat was planted in the fall? And this woman wants to get involved in Kansas government? I'm with you, neighbor.
October 30, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Our legislature is currently controlled by several Western Kansas farmers with large support from the two biggest agriculture lobbies. Someone that obviously knows very little about agriculture or ag issues would not stand a chance in Topeka.
October 30, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
So Mr. Barbee said "Carol Strickland chastised Rep. Peggy Mast for not voting for every education-spending bill presented during the last session."
And then a play on words:
"For Strickland to imply that a representative of the 76th District should vote for every spending bill that is presented regardless of its value or merit is not only naïve but dangerous."
Did anyone else catch this? He's chastizing Ms. Strickland for not voting for "every spending bill" but categorized it all as "education spending". And as we all know, not all bills (in fact, relatively few) are regarding education.
But to further my point, why would we, as Americans and as Kansans, not realize that our best assets are in our children and their knowledge when they leave state-mandated education?
It seems to me that if we can't teach our children (our future) then we don't have much of a future (as Americans and Kansans).
By the way: Check out the No Child Left Behind bill (NCLB). You might find that it does more harm than good.
Melissa
October 30, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )