Restore funding for our children

By Bob Holden

Last year Missouri created 27,000 new private-sector jobs while America lost 230,000 jobs. Missouri created more jobs last year than all but seven states. None of the eight states that border Missouri created more jobs in 2003. Missouri's economy is on the right track, and one important reason is our educated work force.

I have met with community leaders throughout Missouri. At every encounter they tell me the same thing: The key to economic success is educated workers. The key to a community's success is the quality of its schools.

Over the last decade, we invested in our public schools, and we got results. Our eighth-grade students are above the national average in math skills. We have made significant gains in reading proficiency. ACT scores continue to rise. We have 176 schools of distinction when measured on our scale of tough standards. More of our students are taking a rigorous curriculum. We have more than doubled the number of nationally certified teachers. And, our schools are being held accountable with school report cards.

But last year, the General Assembly cut the total education budget by $115 million. Then they sent me a budget that further shortchanged our schools. I vetoed it twice to prevent cuts to education, and twice they said no.

Instead Republican legislators chose to defend corporate tax breaks at the expense of our children's education. They chose to support tobacco companies rather than teachers. We are now seeing the consequences of those actions.

One thousand seven hundred teachers have lost their jobs statewide. In Jackson, 16 teachers, one counselor and six support staff members have lost their jobs.

College tuition is up as much as 20 percent at some universities. Southeast Missouri State University has been forced to raise tuition by 13.6 percent. As we seek to address our budget challenges, we must remember that Missouri is not a free-spending state. In fact, we rank 46th in per-capita state spending.

During last year's budget debate, I accepted every spending cut the General Assembly proposed, and the legislature could not provide me with a balanced budget without devastating education. This year we've undertaken the same exercise, except the cuts are deeper and harder to make. I have already cut 2,000 state jobs and called for the elimination of 1,000 more jobs.

Those who say we should live within our means must take into consideration I have made more cuts than any governor in history. They must acknowledge that I have already cut $1.2 billion from the budget.

Those who say they can prevent cuts to education by cutting elsewhere in state government have not demonstrated they have the political will to take that course.

The essence of our problem is unchanged. We need more revenue. Projected revenue for next year won't be near enough to prevent cuts to our schools unless the state addresses its revenue problem. Jim Moody, a respected budget analyst who served under Gov. John Ashcroft, predicts an additional $600 million shortfall, which would require $415 million cut to the schools. If we don't address the revenue problem, schools next year will face twice as large a cut.

If we are to meet our responsibilities to educate our children, we will need additional revenue through the least painful means. I have again offered the legislature a revenue plan: Increase the cigarette tax and casino taxes. Close corporate tax loopholes. Place a small surcharge on the income tax of the wealthiest 1.4 percent of Missourians. Put this school funding plan on the ballot, and let Missourians vote.

The legislature not only rejected my plan in 2003, it denied Missourians their right to speak on the issue. I think Missourians deserve their chance to speak directly on the future of education in our state. I am confident that Missourians will respond to a call to stand up for our children.

By increasing revenue and closing corporate loopholes, we can restore school funding without a general tax increase. Our children and our schools are our future. I will not rest until we have restored the funding that was cut from schools in this state.

Bob Holden is the governor of Missouri.