The Texas State Legislature has finally found another way to fund education, but is it right?
"Advocates for expanded gambling in Texas say they have a new card up their sleeves; a proposal for casinos, video slot machines at racetracks and gambling on Indian reservations that would raise money to send students to college. As always, they face opposition from social conservatives in the Legislature, and with the state expecting a huge budget surplus, the lure of new revenue isn't as strong. But advocates of the combined proposal said Tuesday (12/19/2006) that they think they can change the tenor of the gaming debate in Texas."
DETAILS OF THE PROPOSAL
A new proposal from gambling advocates would allow: *Up to twelve resort-style casinos across the state. *Video slot machines at dog and horse racetracks. *Gambling at state Indian reservations.
WHERE THE REVENUE WOULD GO
Backers say such a measure would generate about $1.6 billion a year to help students with college tuition and a similar amount for the state's general revenue.
What can I say. First they are increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1.00 to help fund the public school system from grades K - 12. Now, they are planning to help fund college education through a gambling scheme? Can someone please tell me what is wrong with this picture? Let me see if I understand this correctly. The State of Texas is going to use undiserable means to help fund the education of our children? Maybe they should look into selling illegal drugs too, you think? You know, it was not all that long ago when the state was cracking down on slot machines and confiscating them because it was illegal to have one. Go figure! I am sure that expenses are going up, but there must also be another side to this story. Have you noticed how over crowded our public schools have become over the past few years? Have you noticed that many teachers are receiving Federal and State funding to teach classes in Spanish, because the new students cannot speak English? Is this what the additional funding is for? As I mention in Chapter Eight of my book (pages 140 - 141) "Teachers are another group that have ligitimate objections and rightfully so because they are not able to receive the school funding to compensate for all of the children of these illegal immigrant families. What are teachers supposed to do under such grueling stress and strain? How are they supposed to reach out and enlighten young minds to the opportunities of the future when they are placed under such restraints? The first thing that they are faced with are the many students that are crowded into their class rooms every day. The second set of unfortunate circumstances that they must each face is the language barrier. After all, the vast majority of the illegal population infiltrating our communities do not arrive equipped to speak English now do they? Okay, so now the teachers must cater to the children of the illegal immigrants and just who gets left behind? What happens to your children while all of this is occurring? Well, what do you think is happening? Your children are now being placed on hold in order to cater to the children of the illegal immigrants.? I am sure you also reallize that they are NOT paying property tax or school tax. Could this be the root of the problem? Me personally, perhaps they might want to wait a while so they can have plenty of time to re-think this issue.
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Reviewed by Jennifer Butler (Reader)
Reviewed on December 21, 2006
I should think that the Legislature would be wise enough to uplift any group when thinking of education, rather than to encourage gambling, which is by its nature seen as pure risk and therefore not considered a respectable occupation even amongst games.
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