marți, 24 aprilie 2012

Caffeinated Thoughts

Caffeinated Thoughts

Iowa Association of Christian Schools: Action Needed on Education Reform Bill

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 05:00 AM PDT

education-appleBelow is an action alert from the Iowa Association of Christian Schools:

Both legislative chambers have passed their own version of Senate File 2284, the education reform bill. The bill has been sent to a conference committee to work out a final bill which will be voted on with no amendments.

Many provisions affect non-public schools because they are accredited by the state. IACS supports the following provisions which we believe will help education in Iowa, including:

  • No expansion of the core curriculum
  • Retain religious liberty language related to the core curriculum
  • Retain alternative licensure provisions for teachers
  • Retain Competency-based instruction language

Please contact the following four key legislators via email (provided below) and let them know you want them to support these four things in the final version of the bill.  Feel free to copy and paste the following sample email and please personalize it with your thoughts and a “thank you” for working hard on education reform legislation this session.  Each of these legislators (two Republicans and two Democrats) have been helpful to IACS on different aspect of this year’s ed reform bill(s).  They all deserve a thank you and an appeal to keep working to make the bill a good one for public AND private schools in Iowa:

“Please support these provisions in Senate File 2284, the education reform bill:

  • No expansion of the core curriculum
  • Retain religious liberty language related to the core curriculum
  • Retain alternative licensure provisions for teachers
  • Retain competency-based instruction language

Thank you for your work on education issues in the state.”

We are hopeful that the House and Senate will compromise on a bill that includes the four-five areas of agreement while avoiding any of the other controversial provisions that put IACS schools at risk.

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Disparity in Education Outcomes

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 04:30 AM PDT

disparity-education-outcomesI was intrigued with a Des Moines Register story from last week about the Iowa Supreme Court refusing to reinstate a lawsuit based on disparities in education.  Basically a group of parents and students from Des Moines, Davenport and West Harrison brought a lawsuit  which alleged the existence of a "disparity in educational outcomes (in Iowa) based upon where one goes to school."  They said the Iowa Department of Education had "failed to provide similar opportunities for all of Iowa's students."  Some thoughts about this story, the lawsuit and the decision.

  • I agree with the Court's decision, they did fail to show a denial of right, so I'm glad that they decided this way.
  • Even if they did demonstrate a denial of a right the remedy, Jeff Eckhoff writes, would have been "injunctions that would have forced the state to institute statewide standards and close gaps between schools."  I have to wonder if the plaintiffs and Eckhoff has heard about the Iowa Core Curriculum which has been passed and has (in theory) done just that.
  • Also this story accepts the premise that the Iowa Supreme Court has the authority to write law which does not exist.  That would be an unconstitutional use of power.  It is one thing to declare an existing law unconstitutional, it is quite another to force the Legislature to write a law which apparently the plaintiffs don't realize already exists.
  • I think we can chalk this up as evidence that even though the Iowa Core Curriculum has existed for a few years it has done little to improve the quality of education in certain school districts.  So perhaps cookie cutter standards isn't the silver bullet answer after all.  There are external conditions and internal conditions that exist in each school district which impact the quality of education for students which have nothing to do with standards and benchmarks.  A one size approach doesn't work and it never will.
  • I find it interesting that these parents and students haven't taken advantage of Iowa's open enrollment law – unless they couldn't because they live in a district (like Des Moines) where you make too much money to be released.  Perhaps they should have challenged that law.
  • This also demonstrates why we need to bolster more opportunity for school choice – why should people have to settle for subpar education based on where they live?  They shouldn't.
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Iowa’s Homeowner Property Taxes Compared to Business Property Taxes

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 03:30 AM PDT

property-tax-dollarThe flip side of the business property tax discussion is the homeowner or homestead property tax status. Managing the balance between the two is critical to the overall success of our citizens. If business taxes are too high, they will not open new facilities and hire new workers. If residential taxes are too high, families will not be able to buy homes. Before deciding to change the tax structure at all, one should compare the business and homeowner taxes and effective tax rates with others nationally. The Minnesota Taxpayers Association's (MTA) "50-State Property Tax Comparison Study" provides a useful overview.

The basic analysis in the MTA study compares the tax rate for a $1 million commercial property to the median value of a "homestead" property for each state. A ratio is generated, dividing the $1 million by the median home value. This shows whether or not a homeowner's taxes are subsidized by commercial taxes. It is also possible that homeowner taxes are subsidizing commercial taxes. A one-to-one ratio reflects no subsidy on either side. In FY 2010, Iowa urban commercial taxes were subsidizing homeowners by a 2.249 to 1 ratio on a median home value of $156,200 in Des Moines. This ranks 12th in the nation. The national average is a ratio of 1.641 to 1, which has declined over the last two years.

Additionally, when looking at the apartment property tax classification, Iowa apartment owners also subsidize Iowa homeowners by 2.249 to 1. This is fifth highest in the nation, after New York City, Columbia, Indianapolis (Indiana), and Providence (Rhode Island).

According to the MTA, in the 13 states where there is little or no homeowner subsidy, overall property taxes have increased by less between 1998 and 2008 than in other states. This would appear to reflect a stable, in-balance tax system, where governments are satisfied with the money they receive and both business and residential property owners appear to be satisfied with the amount they are taxed. In states where tax rates are out of balance, either one side or the other is advocating for reform.

Where the proper balance is between business and residential property tax rates, and between Iowa and other states, is yet to be decided. Iowans are interested in seeing that the tax structure is logical, easy to understand, and crafted in a thoughtful manner which considers the interests and needs of all taxpayers – whether business or individual. We are interested in ensuring that the taxes collected are used in appropriate and efficient ways. In general, neither homeowners or business owners are interested in paying higher taxes, except for individuals such as Warren Buffet – who thankfully neither resides in Iowa nor is an elected official here.

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Ron Paul Has Just Won Iowa and Minnesota

Posted: 24 Apr 2012 02:30 AM PDT

ron-paul

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC said that it looks like Ron Paul just won Iowa and likely did no worse than tie for first in Minnesota.


Considering that the Iowa GOP State Nominating Commission is now loaded with Ron Paul supporters  and racking up at least half of the Minnesota delegates I would have to agree with that assessment.  With Rick Santorum no longer being in the race so his supporters are not motivated to go after delegate spots, and grassroots activists being less than enthusiastic about a Romney nomination this has left the door wide open for Paul to snatch up delegates in non-binding caucus states.  So the caucus to convention strategy  (read coup) seems to have worked in at least two states.

It seems difficult to determine exactly what is Congressman Paul's end game is because the math still isn't in his favor.  Based on Maddow's reaction I think we're seeing a preview of how difficult it may be to maintain Iowa's First-in-the-Nation status.  So while it appears that Paul's strategy has worked he may have done irreparable harm to Iowa's caucus just so he can have what?  A good slot as a keynote speaker?  Gee thanks.

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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad Launches Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Program

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 01:14 PM PDT

iowa-tornado-seasonDes Moines, IA – Gov. Terry E. Branstad has launched the Iowa individual disaster assistance grant program in wake of the recent storm damage in Fremont and Union counties. The program provides grants up of to $5,000 for households with incomes at or below twice the federal poverty level, or a maximum of $37,000 annual income for a family of three.

Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.The grant application and instructions are available at the "Disaster Assistance" link on the front page of the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.iowa.gov. Applications must be received within 45 days.

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John Edwards’ Trial Starts Today

Posted: 23 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT

Former Senator, Vice Presidential Nominee and Presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC) goes on trial today.  The federal government alleges that Edwards "knowingly and willfully" received nearly $1 million in illegal campaign contributions to hide his mistress, Rielle Hunter, who was pregnant with his child from the public so he could continue on with his presidential bid in 2008.  If convicted he could be sentenced up to 30 years in federal prison.

CNN provides a video timeline:

 

My what a fall, as the Bible says “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall,” (Proverbs 16:18).    This will be a hard case for the government to prove, and I’m sure John Edwards has a competent defense team.  What he’s going to lack, however, is jury sympathy.  I agree with Ed Morrisey that he’d better hope for the judge to toss the charges because the jury may not be so kind based on the tack his defense will probably use.

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