FreedomWorks Praises Governor Douglas for Reconsidering Expanding Public School to 3 and 4 Year olds.

VERMONT. Governor Douglas’ Agenda of Affordability, recognizing that high taxes and too much government spending are at the root of working Vermonters financial struggles, deserves high praise.

Specifically, FreedomWorks-Vermont applauds the Governor’s calling on the legislature to reconsider last years’ messy, back door attempt to force already overburdened taxpayers to fund an expansion of the public school system to include 3 & 4 year olds:

“Last year, this General Assembly added a provision into the final budget bill that I fear will lead to an unacceptable outcome: adding two more pre-kindergarten grades to the already stressed K-12 education system and putting taxpayers on the hook to fund it…. I am asking the General Assembly to reconsider the decision to further increase the cost of education and the growing tax bills that accompany those costs.”
In this spirit, FreedomWorks-Vermont calls on all legislators to vote down S.132 (the Universal Preschool bill), “Fix K-12 First,” and resolve to limit all use of the State Education Fund only to K-12.

Any lasting benefits, of Universal Preschool (along with the possibility that it actually causes harm) are highly debatable. What is not debatable is that these programs end up being massively expensive, and Vermont taxpayers cannot afford any expanded responsibilities for the public school system at this time.
As the Governor stated, “If we are to make Vermont a more affordable state, the problem of over-taxation cannot be ignored and must not be exacerbated….” Passage of S.132, and the expansion of the public school system that it encourages, would both ignore and exacerbate the property tax and spending crisis that is doing so much harm to our communities.

For a more detailed analysis of the taxpayer funded Pre-K debate, and of the “Fix K-12 First!”initiative, visit www.freedomworks.org/vermont/