McKenzie bashes Rouson's tax swap plan

The Rev. Charles McKenzie today criticized state Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, for supporting a controversial tax swap proposal on November's ballot. McKenzie called the plan -- placed on the ballot by the state Tax and Budget Reform Commission that Rouson was a member of -- dangerous and unreliable.

"Amendment Five is a direct assault on the school children of District 55 and their parents," said McKenzie, a longtime public school teacher who is challenging Rouson in the Democratic District 55 primary. "It will increase the sales tax burden on all our working families and this amendment jeopardizes funding for our public schools at a time when public school teachers and students are already under assault by the Republican-led Legislature."

Amendment Five calls for eliminating most school property taxes for a savings of at least 25 percent. The Legislature would have to come up with $9 billion or more for schools by increasing the sales tax 1-cent and picking from a menu of other options.

Rouson is leading the campaign along with Rep. Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee.

McKenzie said the plan would unfairly impact low-income families who do not own property. It also puts the public education system at risk, he said.

To read more about Amendment Five check out the Buzz, our sister political blog.

Meanwhile, McKenzie also secured the endorsement of Pinellas County School Board Member Linda Lerner today.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Comments

Go get 'em Charles. We need a real Dem in that seat!

[Louis]

If it is so bad for the schools, why did the teachers union endorse Rouson?

And if McKenzie is a champion for schools, why did they not endorse him?

McKenzie have you read the bill it says that education must be funded at last years level so lets see Rouson has actually for the first time protected it.

also this bill calls for closing loopholes on sporting luxury boxes ostrich feed etc dont know to many poor folks who have luxury boxes at the bucs go Rouson, lets see some more Bold courageous leadership

Daryl’s hacks need grammar lessons. Perhaps if Rouson was so focused on ruining our education system, they might get some learnin!

Whoever posted "McKenzie have you read the bill it says that education must be funded at last years level so lets see Rouson has actually for the first time protected it." needs to read the proposed amendment. That guarantee is only for the 2010-2011 school year and there are no funding requirements beyond that point.

Kudos to McKenzie for taking a stand when the spineless union wouldn't. BTW, nice job landing Linda Lerner. I respect her far more than the PCTA.

I think Lerner is hot!

The union is against the ammendment. Linda Lerner is a major endorsement for McKenzie. Considering the fact that McKenzie taught for many years in Sarasota, and Linda Lerner knows Darryl from his work in Pinellas County, this is quite interesting.

The union must have brilliant leadership, endorsing someone who publicly goes against their opposition to ammendment five.

McKenzie is also endorsed by Wengay "Newt" Newton,Earnest Williams and the Pinellas Council of Firefighters.

Jade Moore executive Dir of PCTA voted for the amendment on the TBRC