Source:  PRESS RELEASE, 5/31/11

“I am taking a close look at the Senate budget, but at first glance it raises enormous concerns. With regard to education funding, the proposed budget appears to be a charade. While the Senate claims to protect teaching positions, they are actually forcing local school districts to make substantial layoffs of education personnel to the tune of more than a quarter billion dollars – meaning thousands of teachers and teaching assistants will be cut. It also appears to take a devastating toll on early education and higher education.

“Instead of taking the responsible course of extending a portion of the sales tax to pay for critical education needs, the Senate seems to have continued to pursue an ideologically driven effort to unnecessarily defund education and other crucial programs.”