The minority caucus of Alaska House Republicans are frustrated that the Democrat Majority has refused to take up public debate on their bill to drastically increase funding for government-run schools.
After blindsiding Republicans earlier in the week, by discharging House Bill 69 from the House Education Committee without a formal vote from committee members, Democrats then rushed the bill out of its Finance Committee on Feb. 20 with little to no debate. Now Republicans want to have a debate, on live TV, before the full House votes on the controversial legislation.
The bill aims to flood hundreds of millions of public dollars into the state education budget, without requiring any reforms to a chronically failing government-run school system. Sponsored by nearly a dozen far-left lawmakers, the NEA-Alaska teachers’ union and educational bureaucrats are pushing the bill.
If passed, HB 69 would increase the Base Student Allocation (BSA) – per-pupil funding – from $5,960 to $8,510 over three years. That’s a $1,800 jump (or 43% increase), with the added cost to the state being nearly $1.5 billion over that time span.
On Feb. 21, House Republicans made a motion to bring the legislation to the House floor for debate and discussion. In a vote of 20 to 18, the Democrat House Majority rejected the motion, refusing to take up their own bill.
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“My problem with HB 69 is that the House Democrat Majority has not offered any way to pay for it,” Stated Rep. Will Stapp (R-Fairbanks). “The truth is that there is no way they can pay for this without instituting a tax or eliminating the permanent fund dividend, but they want the public to believe they can. It is disingenuous and irresponsible.”
House Republican Leader Mia Costello, of Anchorage, agreed.
“House Republicans should be part of the education discussion – we owe it to Alaskans to have a real conversation about how to improve our schools,” she said. “Our caucus includes members with deep experience in education, and we are committed to improving outcomes for students, teachers, and families. This is a critical issue, and we will continue to push for the opportunity to discuss meaningful solutions to both funding and policy.”
While some Republicans have signaled a willingness to increase the education budget, so long as it comes with meaningful educational reforms, Democrats have been adamant, that the historically-high bill should be free of any accountability measures. At the same time, some of Alaska’s leading voices on educational choice and parental rights have written letters to Alaska lawmakers urging them to oppose House Bill 69.
TAKING ACTION
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3 Comments
It has nothing to do with improving education or educational outcomes. It is all power and control and most voters are so checked out they don’t even notice. If money were the answer our state would be near the top in academic success.
I agree with Elizabeth Henry.Alaska has legislators and a governor with extensive educational experience and yet they are not listened to at all. The first step should be to look at the present BSA and where it is actually spent. And then force the democrats to come clean on this bill. Money is not the answer. Finding better ways to teach the kids and adjust the curriculum back to the core subjects that will prepare them for adulthood and further education is the answer. Anything else fails the kids.
Here we go again! Why is it Juneau is run by democrats half thought throw unintelligent ideas? What about the rest of the States people? What about our opinions? Why is it your way and not a joint effort anylonger? This has to stop. This needs Trump to shut you all down and fire all of you. We sure cant do any worse starting over with all new faces!