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A growing number of elected Florida Democrats have crossed party lines in recent years to support vouchers, including several in Pinellas County. But Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, says in this letter that he’s proud “to stand alone and apart from my Pinellas colleagues” and that the recent voucher study “helps to affirm my longstanding opposition.”
- Ron Matus, state education reporter
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| Shannon Colavecchio covers education issues in the Florida Legislature. E-mail her: scolavecchio@sptimes.com. |
| Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@sptimes.com. |
| Tom Marshall covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail him: tmarshall@sptimes.com. |
| Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools and state education. E-mail him: matus@sptimes.com. |
| Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco schools. E-mail him: solochek@sptimes.com. |
| Thomas C. Tobin covers Pinellas schools. E-mail him: tobin@sptimes.com. |
| Rick Danielson covers the University of South Florida. E-mail him: rdanielson@sptimes.com. |
Brad, I would imagine that the ones that do best in college are the ones who study and apply themselves the most.
Posted by: Susie | July 07, 2009 at 06:25 PM
All the voucher study shows is that students at private schools do the same on a test that governemt school students spend all year learning how to take. Private school students use there education to pass the test, while government school students use test taking skills. Hmmmmm, wonder which ones do better in college, now that would be the true study.
Posted by: Brad | July 07, 2009 at 05:35 PM
I found out that terminator works for the Republican Majority Office. hahahaha. No one takes Terminator seriously.
Posted by: Voter | July 07, 2009 at 04:26 PM
He actually posted an entry to this very blog, on this very report, last week. Let's see if he has the courage to answer the question in a public forum.
Posted by: No Double Standards, Please | July 07, 2009 at 01:58 PM
rick.kriseman@myfloridahouse.gov. Ask him your question. I doubt he's blogging!!
Posted by: Rep. Kriseman's email is | July 07, 2009 at 01:42 PM
JJ,
Nice guess but wrong. Hopefully Tuthill is too busy to be on the blog!
Posted by: No Double Standards, Please | July 07, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Sounds like Doug tuthill has taken to the blogs. My old SPHS colleague!
Posted by: JJ | July 07, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Agree with him or not, Terminator is consistent on this question. We'll see if Kriseman is. Does Kriseman have the integrity to tell his voters--in the same trumpeting tone--that VPK and Bright Futures should be abolished, and the the HBCs should get no state funding?
Posted by: No Double Standards, Please | July 07, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Mark,
I am most interested in seeing Kriseman's response on the faith based question. Many politicians are totally inconsistent on this topic. We'll see if he responds.
Posted by: No Double Standards, Please | July 07, 2009 at 01:09 PM
12:36
all those programs you cited are unconstitutional and should be thrown out.
Posted by: terminator | July 07, 2009 at 01:08 PM
As a public school teacher, thank you Mr. Kriseman.
Posted by: JJ | July 07, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Rep. Kriseman's district is probably the 2nd poorest district in Pinellas, next to Rouson. Large chunk of Lealman, Gulfport, some African-American population. I think his 3rd point about public dollars for faith based is worthy of debate. Sure, lots of public money already goes to faith based, but does that mean its right?
Posted by: Mark | July 07, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Even if his district is upper middle income and white, they are still taxpayers. So he will have to explain why he wants to spend triple the money for the same results. Saving public sector jobs may not go over well with many taxpayers.
Posted by: Tea Party, Anyone? | July 07, 2009 at 12:45 PM
When representing an upper middle income area of Pinellas, like Rep. Kriseman does, it's easier to take this position. However, if you are a Democrat representing a primarily low income and minority district, it's much harder. Parents don't have enough money to move to a neighborhood with a school that works for their kids, and they get pretty upset their own legislators deny them the power to make the best choice for their children. That's why you've seen half the Democrats convert to parental choice.
Posted by: Political reality | July 07, 2009 at 12:42 PM
So, one of the reasons he opposes full K-12 parental choice is that the schools serving the kids can be faith based. Rep. Kriseman, do you also oppose the Voluntary Pre-K program, under which a majority of the kids use taxpayer funds (direct from the Treasury) to attend faith based pre-k providers?
Do you also oppose the Bright Futures and FRAG programs, where students use taxpayer funds (again direct from the Treasury) to attend faith based schools like Southeastern and Hobe Sound Bible College?
Do you also oppose McKay Scholarships for special needs kids, under which more than half the kids use funds directly from the Treasury to attend faith based schools?
Do you oppose direct appropriations by the legisalture to the Historically Black Colleges in Florida, the majority of which are faith based?
Are you consistent in your beliefs?
Posted by: No Double Standards, Please | July 07, 2009 at 12:36 PM