Louisiana’s “inexplicable” failure to make top 12 raises questions about Obama administration’s commitment to reform
Louisiana’s education leaders are wondering what more they can do to outperform other states in terms of reform. Louisiana failed to receive any funds in the federal “Race to the Top” program, and the lack of correlation between successful reform and monetary awards raises questions about the judging process.
The President has been busy catering to his union allies, even to the point of soliciting them for funding to keep Democrats in office in upcoming elections. As part of his appeal to unions for political and material support, the President promised reinvigorated efforts to muscle into law the “Employee Free Choice Act,” commonly known as the Card Check bill. This promise comes even after the bill was left for dead by a Democratic-majority Congress. The fact that the President is attempting to revive this piece of law demonstrates how transparent his labor agenda is.
As the DISCLOSE Act nears its inevitable demise, the backers of this insidious bill are revealing their hands, accusing Republicans of the usual fear-mongering, politics of ‘no,’ etc. However, anyone with a grasp of Constitutional rights, or the slightest bit of insight into politics, can discern that it is a crude piece of partisan vote-hawking at the expense of our Constitutionally delineated liberties. How else can one explain the alignment of conservatives with the ACLU to defeat this disgraceful measure?
Given our state’s looming budget deficit budget deficit and recent blows to the oil and shipping industries, Louisiana should take into consideration New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s proposed agenda to rein in superfluous state spending. Gov. Christie has been anathema to unions throughout the state of New Jersey due to his refusal to genuflect to them or give in to their unreasonable demands, and as such he has become regarded as a maverick. Throughout the country, states are suffering due to ever-expanding public sector costs. In Louisiana especially, the unfettered growth of the public sector has been largely responsible for creating conditions that now require much-maligned budget slashing.
One of the biggest victories of the Legislative session for school-reform and charter school advocates was the passage of HB 1368, which will provide public schools with greater flexibility by waiving certain regulations and rules. Naturally, any legislation which erodes the centralized and stagnant authority of public education draws the ire of teachers unions, so the Louisiana Federation of Teachers is suing to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
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