Educational Funding Clarification Bill [Passed]

[Hatman 🍁]

Aye

[Bono]

Where is the Southeast getting special treatment? Every region has their educational system funded with federal money. By denying our voucher program federal funds you are essentially denying our educational system money--regardless of if you do it in increments or right now--while funding all other systems.

DWTL, if you're going to jump ship and join the anti-school choice crusaders, at least have the balls to either admit it or propose an amendment to end federal funding to all regional education systems period. Even if you cut funding, we won't end the program, if that assuages your "worries", we'll just levy a special tax to fund the program and blame it on you.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Brandon H]

This assualt on school choice has to end. Until it does, expect opposition from this Senator throughout the amendment process.

Nay

Phil,
I agree with you, though I think given the previous amendment that passed, in my opinion, this amendment is now (to a very small degree) improves rather than damages the bill (not that this was a good bill to begin with).

Aye

[DownWithTheLeft]

Where is the Southeast getting special treatment? Every region has their educational system funded with federal money. By denying our voucher program federal funds you are essentially denying our educational system money--regardless of if you do it in increments or right now--while funding all other systems.

DWTL, if you're going to jump ship and join the anti-school choice crusaders, at least have the balls to either admit it or propose an amendment to end federal funding to all regional education systems period. Even if you cut funding, we won't end the program, if that assuages your "worries", we'll just levy a special tax to fund the program and blame it on you.

I think you are little to quick to assume that, I have no intention of voting for this bill and if something I said came to that effect I apoligize.  However, sometimes you have to be realistic and this bill is going to pass sadly with most likelihood.  For that reason I feel it is important that we amend it so that it does not wind up being as bad as it was at the start.  At times it is important to cut your losses, however, if we find a way to fail this bill I would be happier with that.

On this vote, Aye

[minionofmidas]

Abstain.

[Јas]

With 5 Ayes and 1 declared abstention, the amendment has garnered enough votes to pass and is so approved by the Senate.

Result on DWTL's Amendment
Aye: 5 (Sam; Earl; Ebowed; Brandon; DWTL)
Nay: 2 (Phil; PBrunsel)
Abstain [Voted]: 1 (Lewis)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 2 (Al; Rob)

[Brandon H]

Amendment:

The text of the bill shall be replaced with:
1. All regions shall receive an equal amount of money per child under the age of 18 attending a public school.
2. All money spent on education shall be 100% tax deductible.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Amendment:

The text of the bill shall be replaced with:
1. All regions shall receive an equal amount of money per child under the age of 18 attending a public school.
2. All money spent on education shall be 100% tax deductible.

I fully support the amendment but I think it fail to get enough votes.  I think we also need a cap on the amount of money that can go to the regions.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

With 5 Ayes and 1 declared abstention, the amendment has garnered enough votes to pass and is so approved by the Senate.

Result on DWTL's Amendment
Aye: 5 (Sam; Earl; Ebowed; Brandon; DWTL)
Nay: 2 (Phil; PBrunsel)
Abstain [Voted]: 1 (Lewis)
Abstain [Didn't Vote]: 2 (Al; Rob)

Nay, ftr

[Sam Spade]

We are now voting on the following amendment:

Amendment:

The text of the bill shall be replaced with:
1. All regions shall receive an equal amount of money per child under the age of 18 attending a public school.
2. All money spent on education shall be 100% tax deductible.

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Aye.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nay

[Hatman 🍁]

Nay

[DownWithTheLeft]

Aye although I doubt it will garner the votes to pass

[Brandon H]

Aye

[Keystone Phil]

Aye

[Ebowed]

Nay

[Rob]

Nay.

[minionofmidas]

Nay.

[Sam Spade]

4-5, with PBrunsel not voting yet.

[PBrunsel]

Aye after consideration.

Sorry for the wait. There was an emergency I had to attend to for a few hours, all is well.

[Sam Spade]

This amendment is tied 5-5, the VP gets to do his duty...

[Јas]

This amendment is tied 5-5, the VP gets to do his duty...

I'm afraid, I'm not going to be able to provide an immediate answer to this one. There has been no discussion of this amendment, and frankly I don't understand what the full ramifications of it would be.

If someone would be so kind as to explain to me (roughly) how this amendment would change the way in which government funds are delivered, I'd appreciate it.
Also, what is the current status of funds spent on education viz á viz tax deductability?
And, surely clause 2 is very broad in simply describing 'education' spending as tax deductable, wouldn't that cover all sorts of things beyond what I suspect it intends?

Frankly any explanation on these things or general arguments for or against would be welcome.

[Brandon H]

First, compare the current version of the bill with the version this amendment will produce:

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If someone would be so kind as to explain to me (roughly) how this amendment would change the way in which government funds are delivered, I'd appreciate it.

Also, what is the current status of funds spent on education viz á viz tax deductability?
And, surely clause 2 is very broad in simply describing 'education' spending as tax deductable, wouldn't that cover all sorts of things beyond what I suspect it intends?

One can not look at how this amendment would affect the way funds are delivered without first looking at the version of this bill that the amendment replaces. The current version of this bill places certain restrictions on regional educational programs. If this were to pass, one region would no longer receive ANY funding for education while the other four would.

The first part of the amendment (which I'm sure is more clear of the two) would allocate funds based on students attending public schools. Perhaps that is how the system is now. If that is the case, then this part of the amendment would change nothing, but the current form of the bill would.

Perhaps the second part is overly broad. To my knowledge money spent on tuition costs are NOT tax deductible. So persons attending non-public schools are saving the government money by not using the services provided by the government but are paying taxes that go towards education anyway. I would limit education to "any money charged by a school to attend" and supplies such as books.

Frankly any explanation on these things or general arguments for or against would be welcome.

I believe that this amendment, while it may not be perfect, is an improvement over the current form and deserves support. If there are too many short comings in this bill for you to support, could you explain them and I'll introduce a future amendment to address them.

[Јas]

If this were to pass, one region would no longer receive ANY funding for education while the other four would.

What is the current system in the Southeast?
The only relevant Southeastern law I've found has been the School Choice Initiative the consequences of which on public schools are unclear to me.

The first part of the amendment (which I'm sure is more clear of the two) would allocate funds based on students attending public schools. Perhaps that is how the system is now. If that is the case, then this part of the amendment would change nothing, but the current form of the bill would.

Perhaps the second part is overly broad. To my knowledge money spent on tuition costs are NOT tax deductible. So persons attending non-public schools are saving the government money by not using the services provided by the government but are paying taxes that go towards education anyway. I would limit education to "any money charged by a school to attend" and supplies such as books.

I would have no problem with making educational spending completely tax deductable, but yes, I do think the wording is overly broad and would potentially encompass too many disperate activities.