Consolidated Voucher Post (Referendum 1)(Update)(11/1 Update)

I’ve frequently referred to previous posts, keywords, or category links for more background on my voucher posts. I’ve noticed that, those methods aren’t the most efficient way of finding the information etc I’ve put up here. So for reader (and my) benefit, I’m putting this up as a means of having rapid access to my more recent posts as well as new information (at the bottom of this post).

Voucher Accountability: The Best Auditor (Referendum 1)
Parents Know Their Children Best (Vouchers)(Referendum 1)
Voucher True or False (Referendum 1) (update) *Based on the KSL “Truth Test” report including video of and links to the newscast (click here to go to the KSL report).
Letters On Vouchers (Referendum 1)
The Missing Voucher Column (Referendum 1)
Voucher Arguments (Referendum 1)
Vouchers and Entitlements
Carson Smith Scholarship
Education: Nanny State Knows Best?
Voucher Update

**See also: Utahns Can Vote For School Choice Tuesday and Liberal or Progressive, Same Old Nonsense (found via Davis County Watch - seel 11/1 Update below)

Here’s the new information:

I found an insert in the newspaper from the pro-voucher folks. I am constantly irritated by the large print, three-bullet-point, information-poor pamphlets put out by candidates/groups. We all know them, the “I love families have never hurt a kitten”, “I will do great things for the community” write-ups which always leave you wondering if they hurt a puppy and what “things” they consider great. Admittedly, they work (but I still hate them). However, kudos go to the pro-voucher group for the four page, small/normal print insert which includes references. It is one of the best political pamphlets I’ve seen. Fortunately, you need not take the paper to view it. The brochure is available here (in pdf):

Referendum 1 Information Brochure (or click here - also pdf).

I also recommend their Facts page, which includes an overview of how the voucher program would work and a link to the voucher law text as it appears in Utah Code.

Finally, CitizensForTaxFairness.org have/has also chimed in on vouchers.

UPDATE (10/31): I love irony. Today I received a four page brochure (entitled “A Voting Guide for Referendum 1″) from the anti-voucher folks. It was exactly the opposite of the above. It had huge lettering and amounted to 5 vague, single line, ‘bullet point’ items. Three of the items were discussed in the KSL report (as being false) and four have been discussed here on various posts.

The brochure implies that private schools hire criminals as their teachers (a semi-new tactic). If that were true, private schools would be committing institutional suicide. All would be out of business from being sued into oblivion. So, I called five or six private schools (from well known to small) in Salt Lake and Davis Counties. All require criminal background checks prior to hiring teachers (one specifically noted they require it of all employees - I failed to ask the others about that, sorry).

While public schools do also run checks, let’s face it, they have had their problems. Here are the most recent (this week): Southern Utah Teacher Arrested For Sex With Student and Piute High School coach resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations (these are two, separate cases).

As I recall there have been a couple of teachers in Tooele, one in the Jordan (maybe Granite as well) District who’ve been arrested for fairly serious infractions (usually involving students, it seems) within the last year. Let’s face it, background checks aren’t a silver bullet and this stuff will happen however, they should think twice before making such disturbing implications.

Additionally, Citizens For Tax Fairness asked the Davis School Districts to require contractors to verify social security numbers of their employees (fugitives, illegal immigrants etc use fraudulent numbers to obtain work - for more information, see this or this or this). So far, no word has come back from the District (it’s still ‘looking into it’). To date, it appears ID thieves and fugitives can still become contractors for the District.

Lastly, one point I’ve mentioned in the past that has been dredged up again by the anti-voucher crowd is that private schools will discriminate against those with disabilities. Again, a little research and common sense sinks that too. Just look at the Carson Smith voucher (yes, Utah already has vouchers for special needs students) and the schools accepting it. This is just another scare tactic.

I will admit, however, I did find one school (there are probably some more) who do discriminate on disabilities. The “Carmen B. Pingree” school only accepts special needs students. The nerve!

They also play the religious discrimination card - I know LDS folks who send their child to a Catholic school. Just because it’s Catholic, doesn’t mean you must be as well. I’ve found the exact same thing living in Australia - plenty of religious schools (especially Protestant and Catholic) with Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Mormons…(name it) in attendance.

Whatever the case, this still all comes down to who I trust more to make the best educational choice for a child. For me that is not a school district - it’s mom and dad.

UPDATE (11/1): I heard another ad about ‘diverting money from public schools’. The argument is pure sophistry.

The money was never allocated to the schools, it was just part of the surplus money (nothing was taken away or lost as they imply). The same type of argument would say returning money to taxpayers would be diverting money from transportation, parks & rec, WIC…(name a government program/department). Not expanding a specific government department is not diverting funds! The only reasonable argument that could be made here is that the money was diverted from taxpayers (but then, the same could be said of education, transportation, etc budgets as well).

KSL’s report did a good job blowing the false argument out of the water (click here for the article and video). It is also worth referring to the aforementioned “Referendum 1 Information Brochure“.

Finally, Davis County Watch also has some new columns on the vouchers by some well known folks (see: Liberal or Progressive, Same Old Nonsense and Utahns Can Vote For School Choice Tuesday). Another good one is If Not Vouchers, Then What.

Bottom line for me, this still comes down to who will make the best decision for a child’s educational needs: mom and dad or school district bureaucrats. Again, check the links at the top of the post for more information.

Irony Update (11/2): Yesterday I said: “The same type of argument would say returning money to taxpayers would be diverting money from transportation, parks & rec, WIC…(name a government program/department). Not expanding a specific government department is not diverting funds!”

From today’s anti-voucher brochure (entitled “Referendum 1 is too expensive”): “…it will take money away from roads, Medicaid, seniors’ programs, colleges…”. I had to laugh. They really are consummate bureaucrats at heart - if your money isn’t spent on government programs, it wasn’t spent wisely (even if returned to taxpayers).

Schools, Water Guns, and a Dream (act)

The is another example of school ‘no tolerance’ policies (and no tolerance policies, in general). When I first heard about it, I thought it was just about the kid in Arizona but I was wrong. This time it occured in New Jersey.

For the sake of clarity, these kids didn’t ‘draw’ in the wild west, Gary Cooper or The Duke sense the did so in the Escher or Picasso sense. Good grief.

In other news:

The DREAM Act was quickly brought up in another attempt to ram it through, but failed for a fourth time (click here for the vote record). Both Bennett and Hatch voted in support of it.

The Iraq Disconnect (and how to help)

Michael Yon has another excellent post up about the major disconnect (or “glass dome” we live under) regarding the Iraq war and what the current situation is in the country. The post is a sobering wake-up call on the importance on accurate AND timely information. I will excerpt the first few paragraphs of Yon’s post, but before I do so, I would beg of you to go directly to his post and read it in its entirety.

Additionally, I would ask that you consider assisting Michael Yon in his critical endeavor. I will be pitching in and for those of us who never want anything for Christmas (seriously annoying your mother, wife, etc) - consider putting Mr. Yon on your list. You can securely donate through Yon’s homepage (click “support the next dispatch”) or through the link at the bottom of each post (or click here).

Here is the excerpt from “Resistance Is Futile“:

All describe the bizarro-world contrast between what most Americans seem to think is happening in Iraq versus what is really happening in Iraq. Knowing this disconnect exists and experiencing it directly are two separate matters. It’s like the difference between holding the remote control during the telecast of a volcanic eruption on some distant island (and then flipping the channel), versus running for survival from a wretch of molten lava that just engulfed your car.

I was at home in the United States just one day before the magnitude hit me like vertigo: America seems to be under a glass dome which allows few hard facts from the field to filter in unless they are attached to a string of false assumptions. Considering that my trip home coincided with General Petraeus’ testimony before the US Congress, when media interest in the war was (I’m told) unusually concentrated, it’s a wonder my eardrums didn’t burst on the trip back to Iraq. In places like Singapore, Indonesia, and Britain people hardly seemed to notice that success is being achieved in Iraq, while in the United States, Britney was competing for airtime with O.J. in one of the saddest sideshows on Earth.

No thinking person would look at last year’s weather reports to judge whether it will rain today, yet we do something similar with Iraq news. The situation in Iraq has drastically changed, but the inertia of bad news leaves many convinced that the mission has failed beyond recovery, that all Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence, or are waiting for us to leave so they can crush their neighbors. This view allows our soldiers two possible roles: either “victim caught in the crossfire” or “referee between warring parties.” Neither, rightly, is tolerable to the American or British public.

Today I am in Iraq, back in a war of such strategic consequence that it will affect generations yet unborn—whether or not they want it to… [click here to read the rest!]

Voucher True or False (Referendum 1) (update)

I saw this on KSL. The article is entitled “Truth Test: School Voucher Ads Deciphered“. I’m only putting in a small excerpt of the article’s lead as the article should be read in full. The video of the report (I think it has more details than the written story) is also available at the above link in Real Player format (it is also available below for those without Real Player). Excerpt:

Surely you’ve heard the claims, arguments and counter-arguments in the barrage of advertising on the issue of school vouchers. Tonight Eyewitness News has the first of a series of reports we’re calling, “The Truth Test.” We’ll examine claims made in advertising on political races, and we’ll do our best to give you the straight scoop.

We think the best way to tell you how to vote on any issue or candidate is to get informed and let you reach a conclusion yourself.

Oh, one last thing, the reporter (Richard Piatt) did a good job getting this information out in a reasonable clear, concise, and understandable manner:

Again, the ultimate argument for me is that vouchers will help fulfill our ultimate goal in educating every individual to their fullest potential (at their choosing). Parents know their children’s needs better than anyone else. We’ve all known kids who’ve fallen through the cracks or just don’t seem to fit into out traditional education system. Some just learn differently than the rest of us. I strongly feel that these kids (and their parents) deserve the option to make the necessary sacrifices (otherwise unattainable without vouchers) to give their child the best shot at success. In the end, I believe that will fulfill societal goals on eduction and benefit us all with a better educated population as these otherwise highly capable kids are no longer lost.

Finally, for what it’s worth, I also heard this comment (from the debates) by Giuliani and managed to find a longer version (with better context) on youtube:

**Just to avoid any confusion, no this is NOT an endorsement of Mayor Giuliani (I’m not dedicated to any candidate at this time).

For more information on vouchers, see my education category.

PS. One last thing, I just can’t resist Oreo cookies. Here’s an extended version of the pro-voucher folk’s Oreo demonstration I stumbled upon. Mmmmm…Oreos….

UPDATE: I should have included this.  This page discusses how the voucher program will work.  It is from the voucher folks site (off the facts page) but is a plain factual look at what is involved along with a small blurb on accountability.  The page also has a link to the original legislation.  Here’s the page: How the Program Works

LTC Crider’s Letter (Michael Yon)

I would say this is a great post by Yon, but it’s not really his, per se. I’m also not going to even post an excerpt of it - it is far better to read the whole thing along with the background Yon’s previous posts provide:

Achievements of the Human Heart

God Bless our Troops and their Families.

Letters On Vouchers (Referendum 1)

Sometimes it’s better to let others do the talking, especially when they have experience with a voucher (Private schools accept special-needs students):

I am sick of anti-voucher lies about private schools. I hear their debaters say things like, “Private schools won’t take children with special needs who struggle in school because it will hurt their test scores.” That is untrue and an insult to parents, like me, whose children do have special needs, and who already use a voucher to attend a private school.

Utah already has a voucher program, the Carson Smith Voucher. It applies only to children with special needs, and hundreds of children like mine are using it and getting a quality education.

Private schools in Utah participate in this program, proving that they can and do accept students with special needs.

But why limit the program just to special-education students? Many children without learning disabilities also struggle in school and need another option. Don’t those kids also deserve the best education they can find, too?

Hillary Stirling
Orem

I’ve blooged about along the same lines with “Voucher Accountability: The Best Auditor” and “Parents Know Their Children Best (Vouchers)“.

I also stumbled on another couple of letters:
Catholic schools accredited, teachers certified - letter details requirements etc in Catholic schools

Fund public classrooms first - While not voucher related, the middle paragraph is the most interesting and one with which most can probably agree. I think the legislature looked at a bill last year that would’ve mandated a minimum percentage (60%?) of district finances be used in the classroom (including teacher salary) but the bill was opposed by the UEA et al and defeated.

Pelosi Supports Troops By Cutting Supply Lines (update)

A political move by the left is in play to effectively cut off a large portion of our military’s supply lines in Iraq. The article entitled “Pelosi’s Most Dangerous Ploy” details the strategy. I’ve excerpted parts below but would strongly recommend reading the article.

Congressional Democrats anxious to force a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq are frustrated by their inability to muster a veto-proof majority for legislation that would establish a firm date for retreat. But what they cannot do directly they are now working hard to do indirectly.

According to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Turkey is the transshipment point for about 70% of all air cargo (including 33% of the fuel) going to supply US forces in Iraq. Included are about 95% of the new “MRAP” — mine-resistant, ambush-protected — vehicles designed to save the lives of American troops. Turkey wasn’t always this helpful. In 2003, the Turks refuse permission for the 4th Infantry Division to enter Iraq through Turkey.

Turkey’s Erdogan government has indicated that if the House of Representatives takes action on a non-binding resolution being pushed by Speaker Pelosi, Turkey might revoke our ability to use Incirlik as a waypoint for Iraq supplies.

At issue is the non-binding resolution passed on October 10 by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that labels the 1915-1923 massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a genocide. Such resolutions can be passed by either or both houses of Congress and are not subject to presidential veto.

But the resolution is gratuitous and Democrats’ timing suspicious. It’s gratuitous because, in 1981, President Reagan referred to the Armenian massacre as genocide in a proclamation commemorating the Nazi Holocaust.

Why, if Pelosi is so committed to ending genocide, aren’t she and Senate Democrat leaders doing something about the ongoing genocide in Darfur or the massacres of protesters in Burma?

The timing couldn’t be worse. Not only are we dependent on Turkey for our principal supply line into Iraq, we are in on the verge of a crisis with Turkey, trying to convince the Erdogan government to continue to refrain from attacking the PKK — Kurdish terrorist forces — that have been raiding into southeastern Turkey for years.

After the House committee vote, Turkish Ambassador to the United States Nabi Sensoy was recalled…

Speaker Pelosi is apparently so intent on forcing an end to American involvement in Iraq that she is willing to interfere in our tenuous friendship with Turkey. When she does, it will be an historic event: the House of Representatives will be responsible for alienating a key ally in time of war and possibly interdicting supplies to US troops.

In other words, call your representative (the top has a rep finder and drop down menu of reps) and ask them to oppose the resolution AND call Speaker Pelosi’s office (202-225-4965 or 415-556-4862 or email) and politely, but firmly, request that she reconsider this unnecessary, destructive political maneuver.

UPDATE: Not good.

UPDATE: Cooler heads prevail?

Judge Stops ID Theft Provision (again)

Initially, the judge blocked the rule from going into effect until this month and has now further extended his injunction (excerpt):

A federal judge has blocked a proposed rule requiring employers to fire workers whose names don’t match their Social Security numbers, dealing a major blow to the Bush administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Under the rule, businesses with employees whose names and Social Security numbers didn’t match would have three months to correct the mistakes or fire the employees. If not, they could face government prosecution.

As I’ve noted in the past, this reaches far beyond illegal immigrants but also helps us to stop other identity thieves (such as fugitives and deadbeat parents) from getting jobs and away from their actions/responsibilities.   There is plenty more about that under the identity theft category.

Fortunately, this is still only a temporary injunction.  Chertoff is fairly confident that the rule will be implemented (read the source article).  Time will tell how motivated DHS and Chertoff are in seeing this through.

South Davis Recrecreation Center Claims Victim (Business)

Unsurprisingly, small business could not compete with the tax funded recreation center and one has folded. Here is a transcription of the letter to (now former) Xcel Fitness members:

Dear Xcel Fitness Member,

It’s been a thrilling 9 years since we first set up shop here in Bountiful. While many businesses have come and gone, Xcel Fitness’s goal has always been to remain a future of the Bountiful community. On behalf of our entire organization, I regretfully announce that we’ll no longer be doing business as Xcel Fitness effective Oct. 1st, 2007. We thank you for your years of loyalty - it has been a tremendous pleasure to help you achieve your fitness goals. However, I’m excited to announce that we’ve finalized plans to ensure that our fitness members, neighbors and friends continue to be served.

We’ve partnered with Gold’s Gym in an effort to keep the gym at 250 West 1500 South open. On october 2nd, 2007, our doors will re-open and continue doing business as Gold’s Gym. Closing this fitness facility altogether was never an option for me - l love and respect this community too much.

Xcel Fitness has worked hard to always be here for Davis County. l grew up in this community and wanted nothing more than to personally continue my commitment to my friends and neighbors here. We live in an area where two privately run gyms - Xcel Fitness and Gold’s Gym - should be able to thrive. The arrival of the tax-payer funded recreation center has created an unfortunate economic situation where that is no longer possible for each party. Whereas residents of Davis County previously had a choice of facilities they could patronize, now your tax money is funding a recreation center of which you’ll probably never even become a member. This situation made it imperative for the two privately owned fitness centers to come together.

Because of their market penetration and state-wide presence, Gold’s Gym was an obvious choice to continue the legacy of locally owned fitness facilities in Bountiful. Fifteen gyms from Bountiful to St. George are now available to our members. You’ll be able to enjoy amenities such as the new Cardio Cinema, swimming, spas and hot tubs, basketball, racquetball, and a huge variety of free exercise and aerobic classes.

Thank you for your support and patronage. l wish each of you the best of luck with Gold’s Gym, and hope you’ll find a new level of success in your health, fitness and life goals.

Sincerely,
Josh Smith
Owner of Xcel Fitness

Now there is one less fitness center in the area.

This means an job creator is gone, jobs have been lost and families affected by the decreased income. Additionally, an economic stimulus is gone and the future value and synergistic effects of that money (gyms need supplies, pay rent to the building/development owner, etc) are now also gone and a city has one less source of business tax revenue. All brought to you by government market intrusion.

UPDATE: Looks like Xcel owners Smith and Seljaas played with fire and got burned (City strikes rec center alliance, size limits) (excerpted):

Mayor Joe Johnson announced a new alliance between the private fitness industry and the newly formed South Davis Recreation District at Tuesday night’s council meeting, defusing a central accusation by a local tax-watch group.

“We had a nice discussion,” Johnson said after owners of Xcel, John Smith and Gary Seljaas, approached the city with their concerns with the Bountiful Recreation Center (the South Davis Cities Recreation Center (SDCRC), “and now we’re partners.”

“They said, ‘You can use our experts and expertise with your people,’” Johnson said recalling the meeting. The Xcel trainers will train people on exercise machines and teach fitness techniques. They will also teach classes on nutrition, health and fitness planning and methods.

Not sure if the Xcel people ever did get any work at the Recreation Center. I also wonder if it was legal to seemingly award a ‘no bid’ contract to Xcel to provide trainers?

RAP Tax: Trust Us, Insignificantly

Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson continues to push the RAP tax. He even made the front page of the Clipper. The article starts off with:

Sometimes an insignificant amount of money can do wonders for a community.

Three points.

1. Why should I or anyone else be forced to pay any amount of money for your hobbies and interests? Especially if the amounts you seek are insignificant, let users pay it. I pay for my hobbies and would find it offensive to force others to pay for the them (and yes, some of my interests could be aided by this tax).

2. “Insignificant” amounts of money add up. It seems, nearly perennially, that some tax or fee is marketed to us with the shtick of being small or tiny or insignificant so ‘why be such a tightwad miser’ and just cough up the money. Here’s what we are left with:

Since 2002, Davis officials have proposed multiple tax increases. A partial list of these includes:

 

* 2002 — County commissioners proposed a 138 percent property tax increase and eventually enacted a 24 percent increase ($152 per year on a $163,000 home).

 

* 2004 — After “conservative” state legislators authorized the creation of special-recreation districts, the “conservative” county commissioners and mayors in South Davis County created the South Davis Recreation District and implemented a new property tax ($52 per year on $180,000 homes).

 

* 2004 — A Davis County RAP tax supported by mayors across the county was placed on the ballot by county commissioners and defeated by the voters.

 

* 2004 — The school district increased property taxes in order to get Legislature-approved matching funds for reading programs ($12 per year on a $167,000 home).

 

* 2006 — 1.25 percent tourism tax enacted by commissioners after state legislators gave them the authority to raise taxes.

 

* 2006 — Mosquito Abatement District property tax increase approved ($2.50 per year on a $171,000 home).

 

* 2006 — 37 percent property tax increase passed by Commissioner Alan Hansen and two lame duck commissioners while commissioners-elect P. Bret Milburn and Louenda H. Downs gave their tacit approval by their silence. ($60 per year on a $171,000 home).

 

* 2007 — $10 vehicle registration fee increase enacted by county commissioners with encouragement of state legislators.

 

* 2007 — School district proposes a $35 per year property tax increase on a $230,000 home — again for reading programs — in order to get legislator-approved matching funds.

 

* 2007 — .1 percent RAP sales tax placed on ballot by county commissioners at request of mayors and with authorization granted by legislators.

 

* 2007 — .25 percent sales tax increase placed on ballot by county commissioners, authorized and encouraged to do so by state legislators.

Again, these amounts (just the last 5 years) in addition to all the other fees/taxes add up to large burdensome amounts, especially for those living on fixed incomes or starting families (especially when attempting to buy their first home).

3. It is worth noting that this tax will also disproportionately affect those on fixed income, young families, and the poor - those who spend a greater proportion of their income on necessities such as food. The tax will increase your food bills as well as costs for other needs.

Johnson goes on to state:

“When RAP failed several years ago, we couldn’t even tell voters what we were going to do with the money. We just said ‘Trust us,’ and I didn’t blame them at all for not passing it.”

Unfortunately, that is basically the same case this time as well. The only thing they plan blowing the tax money on right now is a ‘regional theater’. Even the theater only accounts for half the money. Ultimately it is still “trust us”.

What I do trust is that those with control of the budget would be sure to fund their own pet projects which they or their friends are involved in as demonstrated here: City Slush Fund$ (Bountiful)

In the end this all goes back to defining our needs and wants and which of those others should be burdened with. I prefer to keep my wants off the backs of others.

See also:
Good-bye Ownership Community?
Taxing You For My Hobby
RAP Tax Proponents
Taxation Category