Action Alert! Governor Douglas calls on legislators to reconsider expanding public school to 3 and 4 year olds.

The efforts of FreedomWorks-Vermont activists throughout the state on the Pre-K issue paid off today, when Governor Jim Douglas, in his state of the state address, called 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:

“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.”

This was a courageous statement by the governor, but we must make sure those words bear fruit in action over the 2006 session. 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.

PLEASE CONTACT the Governor and register your support for his position, and for “Fix K-12 First!” Governor Jim Douglas, 800-649-6825, http:/www.vermont.gov/governor/

PLEASE CONTACT members of the Senate Education Committee and tell them to vote “NO” on S.132.

Senator Don Collins of Franklin District, Chair 868-7975, dcollins@leg.state.vt.us

Senator Bill Doyle of Washington District, Vice-Chair 223-2851, 635-2356, wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us

Senator Jim Condos of Chittenden District, 863-4654, jcondos@leg.state.vt.us

Senator Bobby Starr of Essex-Orleans District 988-2877, 988-2281

Senator Wendy Wilton of Rutland District, 773-3426, WWilton@leg.state.vt.us

Your local legislator can be found at www.leg.state.us/

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, please visit www.freedomworks.org/vermont/
Or, Contact FreedomWorks-Vermont State Director, Rob Roper, at 802-999-8145, rroper@freedomworks.org