Legislative democrat stupidity.

Once again, the simple majority bill has died. Once again, democrats in the Legislature have shown themselves incapable of compromise when it conflicts with the agenda of their puppet masters… in this case, the Washington Education Association, aka the teacher’s union.

Now, the unfortunate fact is that teachers are not the brightest group, taken as a whole. Research has indicated that future teachers have among the lowest SAT scores and clearly, those who shill for their union is reflective of that fact.

Politically, they’re totally inept. They managed to pull one over on us (well, two, actually) when they “pie-in-the-skyed” us with their “no increase in taxes” Initiatives 728 and 732. But last year, their sales tax increase boondoggle was crushed at the polls… so clearly; they’re a political brick short of a load when it comes to reality.

Nothing can illustrate this better then their stubborn, dogged insistence on getting rid of the Supermajority. Their selfish, shortsighted insistence on an all-or-nothing approach to this issue dims their collective bulb just that much more.

Oh, they make excuses in support of their position… my favorite being these two particular lies: “Supporters of the bill said doing so would make it difficult for districts to complete their budgets and would leave the districts with only one shot at a levy or bond each year.”

Lie Number One: Supporters of the bill said doing so would make it difficult for districts to complete their budgets.

Districts are, in fact, fully capable of completing TWO budgets; one in the event the bond/levy fails, one in the event it passes. Thus, the November requirement places exactly ZERO difficulty on school districts. None. Zip. NADA.

Lie Number Two: and would leave the districts with only one shot at a levy or bond each year.

Districts also can continue to hold regularly scheduled bond and levy elections… but they only get a single shot at the simple majority each year… thus the “one shot” argument, as most leftist neo-comm arguments… is a crock.

The WEA and the neo-comm lackeys should have compromised. They should have taken the “camel’s-nose-under-the-tent-flap” approach and engaged in compromise. Instead, they pouted, threw a tantrum… and got nothing. And that serves them and the people of this state, right.



Friday, April 15, 2005 · Last updated 5:53 p.m. PT

Simple majority approval for school levies dies again

By KELLY KEARSLEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A proposed constitutional amendment to allow simple-majority voter approval of school levies died Friday despite last-minute efforts by supporters.

Education advocates say they've tried to get similar bills through the Legislature for at least 15 years.

Friday was the last day for votes on bills approved by the opposite house. The school levy bill had been approved by the House but the Senate did not take action by the 5 p.m. deadline.

Currently, school districts need a supermajority of at least 60 percent approval to pass bonds and levies. The bill would have allowed a simple majority of voters to approve the levies, which pay for school operations.

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