June 05, 2004
Jeb! likes this train
Jeb! is furiously attempting to derail a citizen’s initiative that called for the creation of a high speed train system in Florida. But don’t think that Brother Jeb! hates all trains. Specifically, a gravy train that benefits his friends by giving them state money with absolutely no oversight in the name of reforming education is just fine with him. (Oh, and it’s even better if the aforementioned program drains money from public schools with the logic that this will somehow make them better.)
Four Democratic state lawmakers said Friday that Gov. Jeb Bush should issue an executive order tightening oversight of Florida's two largest voucher programs.Posted by Norwood at June 5, 2004 01:03 PMThe programs, which began three years ago, "have morphed into a taxpayer-funded free-for-all for unscrupulous individuals that will continue to thrive so long as the system goes unchecked," said Sen. Ron Klein of Boca Raton, minority leader in the upper chamber.
The programs are supposed to help children with disabilities and children from poor families. In the past year, they have been plagued by questions and concerns about misuse of the voucher funds and the quality of staff.
Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said increasing state oversight of the programs was a priority during the two-month legislative session that ended in April. After a Senate bill died on the House floor, King predicted the programs were "a disaster waiting to happen" unless the state started keeping a closer eye on the programs.
Sarah Bascom, a spokeswoman for King, said her boss was already working on legislation for next year.
But Klein and the other Democrats said the programs can't go another year without greater state oversight. They called on Bush to issue an executive order similar to the Senate bill that died. Without an executive order, it will be "yet another year for millions of tax dollars going out the door into private hands without proper accountability measures in place," Sen. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, told reporters.
