S.C. Senator Vincent Sheheen voted against legislation that would have required a higher percentage of education funding to go toward classroom expenses – a pro-bureaucracy position that’s distinctly at odds with the Democratic gubernatorial nominee’s recently unveiled “education plan.”
Sheheen, a staunch defender of South Carolina’s failed status quo, proposed earlier this week that teacher salaries be exempted from budget cuts, a curious position when you consider that public schools in the Palmetto state are receiving record amounts of funding out of a record-size state budget.
Where’s the money going?
Until we get an online checkbook, we’ll never know – although studies have shown that only half of every dollar spent on public education in South Carolina actually makes its way into the classrooms. In 2005, an effort was made to rectify this situation by amending the state budget. Specifically, a budget proviso was introduced by S.C. Sen. Larry Grooms that would have required the S.C. Department of Education to appropriate a higher percentage of its funding to “instructional spending.”
Sheheen voted against the amendment.
Needless to say, the S.C. Republican Party pounced on this glaring hypocrisy in a press release sent to reporters on Thursday.
“Career politicians have a bad habit of saying one thing and doing another, and it appears that Vince Sheheen is no different,” SCGOP Chairman Karen Floyd said. “On one hand, he says he wants to put more money in the classroom. But when he had a chance to do so, he voted against it.”
Of course Floyd neglects to mention that “Republicans” have controlled the S.C. Senate since 2001, meaning that the onus for this – and many other failures – falls squarely on the shoulders of her party.
Specifically, RINO/DIC Senators Thomas Alexander, John Courson, Ronnie Cromer, Wes Hayes, Jake Knotts, Hugh Leatherman, Larry Martin, Billy O’Dell and Luke Rankin all voted with Sheheen to kill the two amendments.
By countryboy August 20, 2010 at 8:13 am
The photo says a lot.
By eggaday August 20, 2010 at 8:22 am
yep the photo does. that looks like the PhD lady appointed in Winnsboro district …
THE P H D>>> THE DOCTOR OF EDUCATION.
so the candidate is consulting the PhD in Education , right? that’s what the picture says
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 8:58 am
SCGOP Chairman Karen Floyd – When on earth are you going to can the Nikkster???
Appears you all pissed away 50K on the Palin endorsement, cos the spell is wearing off too soon.
By Fred August 20, 2010 at 9:44 am
The Public School educators, parents and administrators are AWAKE!
They can see through the Nicki education plan and will be supporting Vincent with their money, time and most importantly, VOTES!
FITS: keep spinning the stories. Public Education gets it!
We know which candidate represents OUR KIDS interests.
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 10:14 am
What is Nikki’s stance on the NRA??? Is she like Palin?
By Elizabeth August 20, 2010 at 10:15 am
Try $150,000 for Sarah Palin…
By Step to the Right August 20, 2010 at 10:25 am
Sheheen supports Obama, Clyburn, Gore, Kerry, Clinton(s), Pelosi, Reid and on and on and on. Nice young Sheep in old Dem-lib clothing. Haley is bad and Sheheen is worse! A contest between “may take more of my money” and “absolutely will take more of my money”! Both bad choices!
By yarrrr August 20, 2010 at 10:54 am
“We know which candidate represents OUR KIDS interests.”
Should children in private schools receive no representation?
By Darth August 20, 2010 at 10:57 am
Jakie is Vince’s biotch.
By No Name August 20, 2010 at 11:20 am
Nuckie …..pay attention…..this is a fucking depression…..inside the bubble of tax thieving idiots maybe not so much…but the State is seething and hurting.
Publish a simple press release…..in every School District publish the top 300 employees and the wage they make…..include the juicy benefits and the TERRI stipends.
After the public gathers all the tar and feathers it can muster….this issue should pretty much take care of itself.
Elections are about stitching together voting blocks….teachers and the families they have will not vote for you….so focus on the parents of students.
Ask “Hollowman” to stand with Vinny and Mr. Green Jeans and explain all those huge salaries…..in this economy it will cause a stink ……all those fancy cars in those school parking lots and those fat ass teachers and the gold plated medical they get….expose it for what it is…..a huge payment for shitty results.
By Todd August 20, 2010 at 12:54 pm
This was the deciding factor. For Sheheen to support the gross over abundance of administrators/consultants in the state’s education department is the last straw. While working as a volunteer at a Richland School Dist 1 school last year, I watched 7 giggling, whispering, eye rolling “evaluators” going from classroom to classroom. Their biggest discussion of the day was where they were going to eat lunch and what was near “this” school? I have asked several times and no one seems to ever have received a report from these “evaluators,” though we have dozens of reports laying around the school. I can tell you 5 of these women have not missed many, if any, meals in the past 20 years.
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Todd – Yeah…seriously. Bet there were donuts in the morning and these gals were stuffing their cheeks, purses, pockets. It’s the really fat ones who have that oral fixation.
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 1:58 pm
That’s why guys can’t turn away a fat chick on a slow night.
By Fred August 20, 2010 at 3:38 pm
yarrrr:
Kids in private schools deserve representation!, but not State money. Hence the word “Private”?
So you want our kid’s money, but you don’t want all of the stupid rules, regulations, and quotas that we have to follow as State supported schools?
If you want your kids education funded by the State, send them to a public school. If you don’t like that idea, go out of pocket and send ‘em to private school.
My kids education is NOT a science experiment. I will be sure that Howard Rich, Mark Sanford and Nicki Haley get that message when I vote in November.
Fred
By mass18th August 20, 2010 at 4:29 pm
@noname – that “gold plated medical they get” is the same each STATE employee has an option to get. And let me tell you that although it used to be great, like everyone else’s the price continues to rise, while losing benefits. And after visiting 3 different schools as school started, “all those fancy cars in those school parking lots” must be in your area as I don’t see them in Berkeley County
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Nikki – Hello……..Knock, knock, knock
By Florida Watching August 20, 2010 at 5:32 pm
“In addition to the legislative account emails, News Channel 7’s Robert Kittle found some campaign emails as well. Staffers said they didn’t know how these emails got mixed up with the others.”
The Wonderful World of GOP Incompetence. Can’t you folks do anything right?? You had THREE MONTHS!!!!!
Transparency my ass, late on a Friday afternoon.