Why can there not be, a political Q&A website?
Questions would come from stakeholders.
Legitimate* questions would be posted on line.
*"Legitimate" according to some generally accepted andAnswers will come from candidates.
transparent due process.
I am supposing they would be in form of videos, but that would be up to them; it's their call.
So, why not?
Why post legitimate questions on line, and then allow/expect
candidates to respond to them; (candidly, forthrightly and honestly)?
Is it reasonable to ask a candidate for public office to promise
to tell us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Or not?
It would be the equivalent of a continuously ongoing gubernatorial forum with no place to hide.
Those without character and courage need not apply.
All we need is a few people willing to attach their honor
to the integrity of the process, in order that it be taken seriously both by stakeholders and by candidates.
The legacy media can come along for the ride or not;
we don't really need them.
7 comments:
Question and answer from APS Website
Can we postpone building the West Side Stadium complex, other building projects and the $17 million purchase of whiteboards for classrooms to save money and save jobs?
No. The $43 million shortfall is in the operating budget. A variety of suggestions has been made about how to make up the difference, including layoffs, a hiring freeze, increasing class sizes—expenditures made through the $655 million operating budget.
Capital projects and major technology purchases are paid out of the capital projects account, a fund specifically approved by voters for a specific use. Voters approved a $616 million bond/mill levy package in February and those funds—by state law—can only be used for capital and technology, not employee salaries or other general purposes. State legislation (HB33 and SB9) governs the use of those funds.
My question is why can’t the legislature be called back for a special session to pass a waiver to use Capital funds for Operational funds during this recession or until the legislature starts to fund education again. As a parent, I think most of us would rather see teachers in classrooms rather than a new sports arena or a Prometheus board in every overcrowded class room. After all, before the cuts were even made, APS administration was already asking for, and got, a waiver for class sizes from the legislature. Seems to me, APS would rather pay for this recession on the backs of teachers, rather than business interests, like contractors, architects, and technology kickbacks.
Though I had for years thought as you, there must be some way to move capital funds into operational accounts, it does appear to be an actual impossibility unfortunately.
Capital funds come from bond issues and mill levies. Voters approve the funds for specific purposes. For a legislature to then move those funds into another account and purpose, would be the same as overturning election results, an option that legislators simply don't have the power to do.
IF you read between the lines of Winston's proposed budget cuts, you will find he will layoff teachers and onsite vice-principals...but his high paid admin yo-yos will get "furlough" days, probably only 3 or 4 a year.... meaning thety don't get paid for 3-4 days... but with other stipends that Winston can call upon for them, they probably will not lose any pay.
The skunks in the towers are all safe... I'm sure Winston has already assured them. He will cut in the classroom, then him and his crony admin will go have cocktails and say "that was hard to do... but it had to be done...cheers!"
What about the millions in Capital Outlay projects that the Legislature has cancelled? The money is being used for other things. Weren't those voted on as bond issures for those particular projects? Don't we still have to pay the state millage as part of out property taxes?
There is talk among APS teachers that Brooks will eliminate more teachers than he needs to, then in August, suddenly "realizes" he's over-cut and hire in friends and family of upper aPS admin, ensuring that they have jobs.
Makes sense to me, the way APS is so crony and all.
That's a good question Michelle.
I think that legislative appropriations are different than bond issues or mill levies though. The legislature appropriates money for specific projects, but because that decision is theirs to begin with, they can revisit it. A bond issue to fund capital projects doesn't involve the legislature.
APS has historically not funded certain projects that were passed in past bond elections. Taft was supposed to get phase 3 a couple of cycles ago. Hays was supposed to get a new drop off area. Both are still waiting. Promises Kept? I think not!
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