Letter to the Editor

Your View 10/13: Education worries

Monday, October 13, 2003

Senator Kinder (R-19) is sending letters to newspapers throughout Missouri accusing the Governor Holden of misrepresenting the senator's position on school consolidation and higher property taxes. I regret that Senator Kinder is uncomfortable being held accountable for his statements, but the governor stands by his position that the senator has acknowledged both school consolidation and higher property taxes are consequences of the lack of funding for education.

The Hannibal Courier Post, on July 3, 2003, quotes Senator Kinder as saying, "school districts could make up most of the shortfall in state funding with local property taxes." The Kansas City Star reports on July 28 that Senator Kinder said: "I'm sure consolidation will be on the table."

The fact is that school consolidation and higher property taxes are on the table for Senator Kinder. They are the natural consequence of the Republican's decision not to fund education. School consolidation and higher property taxes are not on the table for Governor Holden, who has proposed closing corporate tax loopholes to fund education.

Sincerely, Mary Still