ALL OUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN state legislators were no-shows at a meeting held Friday by local educators to talk about the state budget and how it will affect our schools. Absent from the gathering with Ventura County school superintendents were Sen. Tony Strickland, Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, and Sen. George Runner.
Yet our local Democratic representatives made time in their busy schedules to attend. Sen. Fran Pavley, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, and Assemblyman Pedro Nava were all present and paying attention. "The legislators who were there took copious notes and wanted to understand our concerns. It was a really important meeting," said Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Trudy Arriaga.
The event was set up three weeks ago and all legislators were asked to attend at that time. "Our county superintendents left their districts for this meeting," Arriaga said.
WHERE OH WHERE was Tony instead? At exactly the same time as the 2 p.m. meeting with school officials, he was camped on a rainy day outside the Borders Bookstore in Goleta at an outreach event only noticed to the public the day before. Indeed, the press release sent to the media about the event was dated January 22.
It looks like Tony needed a quick excuse for ducking a meeting with school officials. But why would that be? Perhaps it was because he supports a Republican version of the budget which would cut $10.6 billion from K-12 schools and community colleges.
According to Education Week's 2009 Quality Counts report, California spends $7,571 per student, compared to $9,963 per student nationally. The report gave California an "F" in the category of school spending and ranked it 47th in the nation in this area.
Everyone agrees that the education community will likely see some cuts when a budget plan is agreed upon, but the degree varies according to ideology. The Stricklands seem far more interested in helping their extremist friends than they in do working for our children, and were part of a recent lawsuit to stop a Democratic budget.
Where was Audra on Friday? Apparently she called just an hour and a half before the meeting and said she had a family emergency. No explanation was given for Runner's absence.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR TONY, he didn't escape the wrath of public education advocates by retreating to Goleta. He was instead peppered with questions by activists who traveled from UCSB and Ventura County to talk to him. "The event was dismally attended," said Katherine Holland, who drove up from Ventura. "His little table and chair with the State Senate sign were empty for about 30 minutes as he was inside Borders with a lone person or two and a camera."
When Holland was finally able to engage Strickland, he told her he was in favor of a "flat tax" plan.
"Strickland's attempts to raise the flat tax as a possible reform only served to reveal the extent to which ideology, rather than common sense, is holding the state budget hostage," said Holland, a political and marketing researcher based in Ventura. "The idea of raising a significant, regressive sales tax to replace the state tax system did not strike Strickland as being at odds with the current economic climate in which consumers are already reducing purchases. And it's doubtless safe to say that with the state about to run out of money in February, now is not the time to be chasing after what amount to hypothetical and whimsical fancies."
Arriaga said the superintendents plan to try again to corral the missing Republican legislators.
"We're going to ask for another meeting and our Democratic legislators said they are happy to return and are going to ask their Republican counterparts to come," she said.
Be sure to look for another last-minute "card table" event coming soon from Tony Strickland
Marie,
Although I understand some of your frustration it is better that he appears in public and takes questions, unlike another local elected Republican leader.
Do you favor removing the 2/3rds requirement to raising taxes?
Brian, hardly anyone showed up to this last-minute rainy day event, which was clearly scheduled as cover so he would not have to meet with our local school superintendents. Their meeting, scheduled three weeks ago, should have taken precedence.
But knowing you, your question was posed to me as a dig at Elton Gallegly, who doesn't do much outreach.
Marie,
Why would he need a cover? He could have said he was in Sacramento working on the budget or something. Was he afraid the local papers would note his absence but also have a story that he was at his card table? Did any of them in Ventura or the area run stories of both events?
I guess the real test will be if he keeps up these card table events across the district. I agree that if he doesn't do more events across the district soon it would look like he didn't want to attend the event. If he has a few more events in the near future across the district I might give him the benefit of the doubt.
My other issue is that it seems most agree that large cuts to schools will be bad, but we don't all agree on how to raise taxes/funds/fees or what else to cut, or how to borrow money.
We can't even agree what a fee or a tax exactly is it seems.
Interesting! Why does Tony Strickland fear speaking with school officials and Democratic office holders about the real problems of the budget for education in our county? Maybe he doesn't have control of the Ventura County School Board any more and questions of a $400,000 expense for two lobbying firms tied publically and politically to Strickland are being mounted by the new Board.
We call upon Senator Strickland to sit down and talk realistically and honestly about the cuts to education for our children.
Skipping an important meeting like this is inexcusable. These superintendents left their busy offices to come and his staff only noticed the table to the public the day before.
Do you think it would've mattered to the Borders customers what day he sat out in front?
He had three weeks' notice of the superintendents meeting.
Helen, Marie,
I agree with both of you on many issues and policy preferences but I don't understand the drive to meet and discuss these issues.
Do you really think that by coming to meetings like this that State Senator Tony Strickland could be convinced to vote for a budget that Democrats are supporting?
I just don't see him compromising with the Democrats. Do you see that as a possibility on this issue?
Nah, it just proves he isn't very bright at providing excuses with a press release dated three weeks after he was invited to meet with school officials. Tony got mom to write him a note for skipping school.
Brian, do you think it is OK to ignore all the school superintendents in the county? Don't you think that as their elected (by just 857 votes) representative, he should meet with them?
I think what you are really saying is that education officials across the state should just write him off as not being supportive of public education and call it a day.
You are incredibly naive if you think this last-minute card table event was anything but a stunt to paper over his missing the meeting.
I agree he should meet with other elected officials but I don't see them convincing him to vote for the Democratic budget, even if there were many concessions in his opinion. Did he ever vote yes on a budget when he was in the state legislature?
I don't think you are understanding here. The meeting was called by every school superintendent in the county and all attended but one.
Both Stricklands should be meeting regularly with school chiefs to talk about a variety of issues.
It's what we all feared. The Stricklands do not support public education and have no interest in meeting to talk about it. You apparently think it's hopeless, too.
Audra was the only one to have a real job outside politics and it was a brief stint as a private Christian school teacher. Tony was a paid lobbyist for a charter school that has one of the worst API scores in the county.
I find it absolutely inexcusable that no Republican lawmakers or their representatives met with our area school officials. Especially with the daily report on the budget and almost EVERYONE cited education as important.
Is it punishment for the school officials support of Strickland's opponent or the fact that it was said publicly by a school official that her phone calls to her Republican lawmaker were never returned? It looks that way. Very vindictive.
For what it is worth...Strickland had ample time to make his Day Timer schedule appropriate to the planned meeting at VUSD. If Strickland and the others who moratorium this planned meeting cannot even give credence to scheduled meetings, and do their campaigning at another time, maybe the voter's can make arrangements not to go to the polls and cast ballots in their favor.
If I had my Falling Star Wish, it would be to; Forget the Stricklands, et. al.
Now, what is Senator Runner's excuse(s)? I wonder if the Strickland's copy-catted Runners absence?
It is a copy-cat relationship. Husband-wife team, religious and/or "charter" schools, and some bad leglislation.
They could've at least changed the time to accommodate both events. Why not table from 11-1 over the lunch hour when more people would be out anyway?
Apparently Audra's family emergency is not Tony's family emergency. They must have forgotten to coordinate excuses.
Which superintendent didn't show? Just curious. I'm sure s/he had a better excuse than either of the Stricklands or Runner.
Thank you, Marie for once again exposing the Stricklands for who they actually are. I think the superintendents should go back to the Stricklands and ask them to give some dates and times over the next two weeks that they have available. I'm sure our local education leaders would be happy to reschedule and travel to Tony's office for his convenience to talk about the state of education in their districts.
Hi Educator,
Very good point about the family emergency. I do not know which superintendent couldn't come. These folks are incredibly busy. I know ours here in Ventura often works until 10 p.m. It speaks to the importance of this meeting that so many could attend.
Going back to the discussion Brian and I were having (and continued offline) he feels that the meeting was a waste of time because there is no possible way you could get these legislators on board with making fewer cuts to education. That would involve looking at ways to raise revenue, which they won't do.
But not meeting with all those superintendents, who represent thousands of families, is just wrong. You can disagree, but hear the folks out at least. That’s what we elect these people to do — LISTEN TO US, the voters.
This kind of partisan sniping by disgruntled Hanna-Beth supporters serves no purpose what-so-ever. Don't you people realize what a position Tony and other Republican leaders are being put in by Democrats in the budget debate? Republicans understand that raising taxes may temporarily allow the state to continue paying public workers. But that is the only problem that raising taxes solves. We need to cut spending. In order to cut spending, government is going to have to spend less. And that means educational spending is going to get the ax. Democrats care only about making the public employee payroll and not the overall health of the state;s economy. This is my opinion and not necessarily that I my employer.
What your blog fails to mention is whether Tony actually responded to the invite. It's one thing to send invitations, but unless they RSVP, chances are they won't show up.
Tony's staff told the superintendents he could not make the meeting but did not tell them why.
Kevin, I supported Hannah-Beth for many reasons, but foremost was her support of public education and her honesty and integrity. Not only did she attend meetings like this, she visited schools, attended school events and sought out the school chiefs for their opinions.
Democrats have proposed significant budget cuts to education and other categories. One proposal I saw cut education by more than $4 billion. They are compromising. The Republicans aren't.
The Legislative Analyst's Office proposed an alternative budget last year that made a lot of sense. It combined reforms with the elimination of special-interest tax credits which were no longer serving their intended purpose. Both sides of the aisle have ignored many of these suggestions and I would like to know why.
Marie,
To be more clear in my position I don't think it is a waste of time for legislators to listen to their constituents. I agree with you that they should meet regularly with stake holders from across the community.
I don't see either of the Stricklands voting for a Democratic budget, even with many compromises from both sides.
I don't have the data but I wonder if he ever voted for a state budget. Marie, do you have that data readily available?
Of all the speakers at the meeting who do you think is best at bringing the two sides together?
I have spoken to Tony Strickland and he has put forth proposals to lessen the cuts to education including taking unspent money from other accounts ( tobacco), and lifting some restrictions on some funding. I don't think that would solve our current problem and if it was in a budget that also raised taxes I would expect he would vote against it.
Kevin,
Do you think Senator Strickland should have attended the meeting?
It is disappointing that three elected representatives chose not to show up to discuss an important issue in a time where tough choices need to be made with the State budget. Not showing up and listening gives the appearance of not caring about what an important and influential constituent group has to say. Honestly, how hard is it to show up, nod, and smile even if you think you will disagree with what is discussed?
Brian,
But you think it is a waste of time of time for them to call a meeting? You posted above, "but I don't understand the drive to meet and discuss these issues."
I guess I need more clarity on your position.
As far as money from "tobacco" goes, what he wants is for voters to redirect Proposition 10 funds approved for early childhood programs. This may or may not be approved by voters at a yet-to-be determined election. This is not helpful now.
Let's not forget that our voters have a "spending problem." They keep voting for expensive propositions which tie up state dollars. Strickland himself was a vocal advocate for Prop. 6, which would've cost the state almost a billion dollars. It was voted down, though.
Freeing up categoricals is a good idea; the governor's proposal also includes this. But it isn't going to bring us anywhere close to what we need.
Marie, et al:
This is all small time, farm-team inside baseball, and focusing time and effort on it dissipates the public focus on the main problem. Which is, without a State budget, there will be no education funding, period!
Second, the bottom line is that due to a whole series of reasons, Proposition 13, ERAF, Proposition 98, the historical clout of the public education lobby, and the all to knee-jerk reflexive government response of both government and the educational lobby to throw money at a problem rather than fix it, K-12 education already consumes about $40+Billion out of a $100 Billion State General Fund Budget...How much is enough? $50 Billion? $60 Billion, $100 Billion?
Third, teachers, and the students they serve should be the focus of our public investment in education, not the educational bureaucratic elites in Sacramento nor the local administrivia apparatchiks in Superintendents'offices.
No Child Left Behind, which was strongly supported by both Democrats and Republicans educational elites, has turned teachers into test-givers and students into test takers. By the way, Albert Einstein hated tests, and failed a good share of one's he took in school.
As far as I'm concerned, Superintendents are part of the problem, they need to become part of the solution. For starters, perhaps they should follow Barack Obama's lead and voluntarily freeze their exorbitant salaries, or better yet take a 5 to 10% pay-cut, in an effort to show solidarity with the teachers, and help forestall layoffs.
Next, when front-line teachers come to them asking for support in dealing with recalcitrant kids and parents who reflexively blame teachers for their failings as stewards of their children, it would be far better for Superintendents to support their teachers rather than capitulate to political correctness with parents.
Finally, the State Legislature, Democrats and Republicans alike, are an utter disgrace. Here we are, Day 90 and no budget deal. Shameful..
How many more teachers must anguish over the possibility that they will lose their job? How many more students must wonder if they will have the classes and support to graduate? How many more classified workers, whose logistical support work is vital to daily routines at every school in the State, will be let go? How many more businesses will leave California because can’t count on the State to pay their bills, they face greater taxes and have to deal with fewer qualified students entering the present and future workforce?
And what is our vaunted State Legislature doing, Democrats and Republicans alike? Why they are going to Presidential Inaugurations and raising campaign cash like there's no tomorrow..
Each day this disgraceful condition continues, I'm reminded more and more of the tragic historical wisdom found in Gibbons' "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."
In fact, I can just see both the Superintendents and the State Legislature hobnobbing with our very own Nero, the Terminator, drinking expensive Chablis, chomping down the best Brie, and watching the State burn-down around them as they wash their hands of any individual, let collective responsibility to solve this un-godly fiscal mess..
NostraDemus
Marie,
Do you think if he attended this meeting and others like it he would be more likely to vote to support a budget that Democrats were proposing?
I doubt that he would, but I agree with you that elected officials should listen to their supporters, their critics, and others.
Yeah!
O-k...So is it safe to assume that Tony S. never formally agreed to attend the meeting in the first place..? I don't see how some jump to conclude that he doesn't care...
Tony Strickland doesn't go to places where he might have to (a) answer questions because he has no answers and (b) where "his people" aren't there supporting him. Strickland like Gallegly are a waste of human resources.
As a Republican, I am embarrassed that NONE of our Republican lawmakers had the decency to attend or send a representative to this event. There is no excuse, none what so ever.
She's the brains of the family, he's not and both are Republican party puppets. Obviously most constituents did not check them out - Hey! If they're Republicans, then they're ok, right?
NOW is not the time to stick by old and irrevelent party ideology. Do what's right, especially for the kids.
Unfortunately, both of these party hacks will continue to be obtusive and divisive for their beloved interests who helped put them in the public trust.
Voters - you got what you wanted. Turns out these 2 will never give us what's good for our children and our future and get the big bucks we pay them anyway - now live with the consequences!
Lighten up. people. Tony is a great example of how you don't need brains to succeed in the good old USA. But he was voted in only because he's a Republican and now we have just another empty suit in Sacramento. But it's bad timing. We really need the opposite right now.
The 4 necessary republicans put a budget on the table with tax increases that didn't need The Honorable State Senator's or The Honorable Assemblywoman's vote to pass, but the Dems have so far rejected it because it has a permanent spending cap and rainy day fund.
Call the moderate republicans bluff already dems! Then we'll have a spending cap and a rainy day fund, both of which moderates can support, and you'll get your evil tax increases... excuse me "revenue enhancements". Vote that budget in, and get it over with, and stop blaming the Stricklands for sticking to their anti tax policies, which have been pro business from Senator Strickland's first day on the Assembly floor.
They both ran a campaign promising not to raise taxes, if they gave in to the teachers' union and the overpaid/underperforming superintendents and went to the meeting to be convinced to raise taxes, it would have been a waste of time anyway. If they had flipped and decided that we need to raise taxes you would just call them dishonest for promising not to raise them.
I'm republican and I'm embarrassed that Katie still calls herself a republican when obviously she isn't. As for this whole blog...seriously doesn't TS get any credit for trying to connect with the area of the district that overwhelmingly voted against him. This is the second time that I know of that he has done this meet and greet on the streets of SB and I for one think it's a great idea. I have NEVER seen my Assemblyman unless its in this paper. This all just sounds like sour grapes and maybe if we were to cut all the programs that allow illegals to get for free what we pay for (like education, we're talking millions here)then maybe the schools could be better funded. I never intended to get back in this political sniping again but obviously some people just can't let it go. Let me know when you go back to blogging about Ventura...second thought, never mind.
Damien, keep defending the indefensible - which includes not meeting with education officials. None of the Republican offices even sent a representative - so in effect, no voter in Ventura County was represented. Yeah - that's the ticket. A true Republican (with a capital R) would want to be represented - anything less and one is a candidate lapdog.
Damien and Haha,
I have been to many meetings where electeds were invited, but couldn’t come because of pressing duties in Sacramento, etc. They send an aide to attend and take notes instead. But this was scheduled for a Friday when they are not in Sacramento. At the very least, Tony could’ve moved the card table event to 11-1 to accommodate both meetings, as one of my bloggers suggested. Any of the legislators could’ve sent an aide.
If they had come, perhaps they could've heard our wonderful Supt. Trudy Arriaga tell them her ideas for helping education budgets that would not involve increasing taxes. Example: Abandon the mandates for buying whole new sets of costly textbooks when the old ones still function well.
I will continue to report on what my new senator and his wife are up to. Count on it.
Try doing the research and find out exactly what these 2 have done while in office. You will actually find their accomplishments that benefit us are close to zero but they continue to win elections. WHY?
They run campaigns based on falsehoods and half truths. Neither has passed a piece of legislation worth much.
Marie,
Please don't lump me in with people who seem to take the same stance as me, as I don't make personal attacks against anyone unless absolutely deserved.
If there wasn't a hiring freeze because of the budget debacle, maybe Senator Strickland could have hired an aide to go for him and take notes. I'm not defending his absence. I'd take that job...lol Seriously though, unless someone can confirm that he RSVPed or even prove he had advance notice because I'm sure he's busy leading the fight against taxes, then he has some reasonable excuses for not attending or sending a representative. Give him some credit for setting up a table in a county he got creamed in the election to do some outreach, even if you're going to bash him for using it as an excuse to dodge possibly unfriendly environments.
Moorpark Man,
You know what the Stricklands have done while in office? They have led the minority party in a battle against one of the most liberal state assemblies in the country to prevent even more reckless spending and increasing taxes, all the while being undermined by "moderate" Republicans. Keeping taxes low benefits business, which keeps most of us regular folk employed in a state where we pay the highest sales, gas, and business taxes.
They Lie,
Draft something for them and ask them to introduce it, and see how they react. Maybe some of the bills they drafted would have helped, if they had passed, but that is an uphill battle to say the least, when you are a conservative in Sacramento. Maybe you should be more proactive and less cynical with your broad generalizations about people who you probably have never even seen in person, or talked to, or discussed policy with.
You guys are so much fun!
If the children have a decent education who will buy the cigarettes and methamphetamines? Our Senator's contributors need people hangin around street corners smoking cigarettes and buying meth after losing all their money at the the nearest Strickland contributor built casino.
It's not the Strickland's job to take care of your kids.
NostraPostmus
Katie, do you know for certain that the Superintendents allowed for staff members to attend in place of elected officials?
You may have your differences with the Stricklands but don't get on Marie's "bash the Stricklands at all costs" train. It's pathetic.
It's a good thing there's some balance on the Star's blogs. Let's see....
Richard Larsen....wait....Helen Conly...wait....Brain Dennert....wait...no....Timm Herdt....
Yup, fair and balanced.
Why don't you call your state senator and report back?
As far as balance goes you know that Larsen is gone and that there is a blog by someone that endorsed Tony Strickland for state senate, yes?
http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/propaganda/
I find it very difficult to respect any representative who refuses to at least go and listen to the difficulties of the people he or she purportedly is being paid to serve. Mr. Strickland could have shown respect for his position and for the people he serves by at the very least silently taking notes on their concerns. Nobody would have held his feet to the fire; he would not have been forced to speak, if he was afraid of that. It seems to me that Mr. Strickland would rather protect his partisanship than engage in fact-finding that might inform his views and votes.
Excellent site blogs.venturacountystar.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here: this .. as it's taken me literally 1 hours and 18 minutes of searching the web to find you (just kidding!) so I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :)