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Republicans destroying public education

Governor, legislature lowering standards

It is becoming increasingly evident that the Republican majority in the Senate and Assembly along with the administration are clearly determined to lower all educational standards for K-12 and our state universities.

They are also determined to lower the wages of skilled tradesmen, lower income taxes for those earning over $200,000 a year, lower the quality of road and streets by failing to maintain them, and lower the requirements for purchasing a handgun and carrying a concealed weapon, and allow open carry most anywhere.

In addition, they would allow an unlimited number of vouchers to provide taxpayer subsidies to for-profit, franchise schools.

The administration and some members of the state Senate and Assembly have indicated that instructors in public schools are too expensive and that personnel with less than a degree could replace them at a lower cost, enabling the public school system to continue at lower funding.

Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed state budget would have allowed elementary school students to receive their instruction from teachers without bachelor’s degrees. Some have suggested that a number of state universities be closed also.

The record of the present administration and the Republican-led majority have demonstrated a lack of knowledge, experience and inability to manage our state government. Refusal of government subsidies, tax incentives to wealthy interests and corporations, along with reduced tax revenue from the lower wages state employees are receiving and a stubborn refusal to raise the gas tax, have cost a sizable loss of revenue.

The people of Wisconsin will not tolerate more reductions in state aid support. We love our children and we want them to receive a good education like their parents and grandparents did.

Erling Landsverk
King

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