It's Time To Say No!
Posted on : 19-02-2009 | By : mattshultz | In : Education, Leadership, Politics
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PRESS RELEASE
As a result of President Obama signing the stimulus bill there will be additional funds coming to the state of Georgia. Many people around the state are already trying to figure out how to spend this money as if it were free. This bill was wrong for America and in my opinion will do nothing but harm the future fiscal stability and prosperity in this country. This bill places this nation squarely on a path towards Socialism which our new President and his party have so fully embraced.
I am a fiscal conservative that believes in the redeeming characteristics of the free market system and its ability bring this country out of our current economic downturn. This lurch towards socialism will takes years to correct and it is time for the people of this country to say NO MORE!
As a result of this deep held belief I have asked Dr. John Harper the Superintendent of the Bartow School System to quarantine and account for all money received by the Bartow County school system through this stimulus bill. I have further asked that a separate public vote take place on an item by item basis so that I and the other board members can record our position on this issue.
I will not be guilty of doing nothing while the free market fabric of our country is being ripped apart right in front of us each day. It is my hope that we reject these funds and send them back to the state. This will not be a popular position and there may very well be some costs associated with this action but we can no longer operate under the misguided belief that these choices bare no consequence.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions on this issue.
Matt Shultz,
Bartow County School Board District 3
Summer’s coming on and school’s going to be out soon, but shouldn’t these children remain in class a bit longer?
That’s the feeling I receive when a handful of Republican governors are considering turning down some money from the federal stimulus package, a move opponents say puts conservative ideology ahead of the needs of constituents struggling with record foreclosures and soaring unemployment.
http://ourcountryspresident.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/can-a-voter-actually-say-%E2%80%9Ci-voted-for-this-official%E2%80%9D/
In the February 6, 2009 issue of the Daily Tribune News John Harper was quoted as listing some cuts that could be made to deal with a possible budget deficit. He mentioned increasing class sizes, eliminating 5 percent of teachers and paraprofessionals in special education, eliminating Spanish teachers at the elementary level, foregoing adoption of some textbooks, phasing out the International Baccalaureate program, and raising the district’s millage from 17.90 to 18.90 mills. Sending money from the stimulus package back to the state when the system is short of funds would seem to be short sighted. Bartow County students, employees, and taxpayers would suffer from this action. As my grandma would say it would be cutting off your nose to spite your face.
This money is not “free” and its use will have far reaching implications on the future of this country.
The short sighted action was to approve a stimulus plan which does not improve the economy and saddles future generation of this country with almost unimaginable debt.
when you keep borrowing from the future, someone has to pay the bill. we can spend money we don’t have educating kids, only to give them giant deficits when they are ready to work or retire.
it’s the college loan problem brought down to elementary school levels.
we need leaders with vision, not leaders who react to yesterdays news.
I respect your willingness to take a stand and reject these funds, unfortunately, unless we get everyone to do this, it will have little impact on curving the negative implication of the stimulus bill. I also heard this morning, something about the federal government being able to bypass the wishes of state governors, if said state governors rejected “stimulus” money, and thereby forcing their states into taking the money… if they can do that to the governors they can probably do that to you.
The Governors of GA,SC,LA, and MS are saying that they will say NO to parts if not ALL of this stimulus money!
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/02/22/perdue_stimulus_funds.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
Matt,
Thank you for saying this. I have noticed a lot of elected officials around the nation echoing a lot of these concerns. The biggest problem with this is that the bill was rushed through and voted on before anyone had a chance to read all 1,100 pages. You better believe that there are programs and policies in there that are tied to the funds that will forever change the society we live in, and not in a good way.
It takes courage to do the right thing, and I applaud your stand.
Melissa Huneke