Date:  Sun, 26 Feb 2006 07:46:59 -0800 
 From:  "Ross A. Smith" <rosssmith@charter.net> 

    Kulongowski advocates for over three-fifths of the state budget to 
go toward K-12 public schools (in addition to the local taxes that 
already go there), and the Oregonian wants more! This is not an 
"investment" as the Oregonian describes it. An "investment" presupposes 
the taxpayers will receive some "return" on that investment -- and 
public schools grow worse every year -- especially in Portland, where 
barely half the students graduate high school.
    This is not a classroom investment -- it is overspending -- pure and 
simple -- unchecked spending gone wild -- especially when all the new 
money goes straight into still more money for gold-plated teacher fringe 
benefits which are among the highest in the nation -- and spinning out 
of control. PERS will be ballooning up again in just two short years. 
Portland schools pay teachers over $1000 per month just for medical 
benefits.
    Yet the Oregonian refuses to advocate for the state getting control 
of these runaway teacher costs.
    This is not school "investment." It is school "insanity." And it 
will never be enough so long as public school costs are spiraling out of 
control and union-backed politicians do nothing.

ras