Kaine’s Pre-K Program Cuts Police Funding
By Greg L | 2 October 2007 | Virginia Politics, Prince William County | 64 Comments
One of the reasons the Prince William Board of County Supervisors deferred appropriating money for illegal alien initiatives in Prince William County is because of what is termed a “budget shortfall” in the Commonwealth that resulted in five percent of the state’s financial assistance for our police department, amounting to $575,000, to get cut. This state funding shortfall is largely the result of Governor Kaine’s “pre-kindergarten” program initiative, which essentially adds another grade to our public school system. So instead of getting the law enforcement officers we need, we’re going to hire a bunch of teachers and build facilities so we can get four year olds into the classroom. No word has been released yet on when the pre-pre-k initiative will be announced for three year olds, because some percentage of their brain development supposedly happens before the age of four.
From the DC Examiner:
Tuesday’s meeting came a day after Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced $300 million in budget cuts, including some state aid to local governments. Prince William County expects to lose $575,000 in state aid for its police department.
State revenues aren’t down this year, they’re just growing more slowly than projected. Despite this, Governor Kaine is determined to do something with his pre-k initiative, and instead of making it universal seeks to double its size. His means of paying for this is raiding the “rainy day” fund at the tune of $300 million, and demanding cuts in state spending. Cutting funding for local police departments by 5% is one of these, and there are more to be announced.
No one has been able to prove that there are long-term benefits to these pre-k programs, but they sure sound nice to those who really want to find new and creative ways to spend our tax dollars. Meanwhile, not only is Governor Kaine refusing to take action to deport illegal aliens that are incarcerated in our state prisons after their sentences are completed, but he’s cutting the funding that localities that Prince William County need in order to effectively address the illegal alien problem themselves.
The Governor’s priorities are severely out of order. We don’t need to expand the pre-k program here, but we really do need to help reduce the number of criminal illegal aliens that are slipping through our legal system.
UPDATE: For those asking for contact information for the Governor, here it is:
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Send an e-mail message
UPDATE 2: Riley adds his own thoughts about Timmy! It’s worth a read.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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“State revenues aren’t down this year, they’re just growing more slowly than projected.”
That’s some pretty creative spin, Greg.
This is essentially a baby-sitting program and should not be implemented. I’ve noticed when immigration issues escalate, local law enforcement budgets are cut by the Feds and the State. Our National Guard is also sent overseas. Therefore, we are left defenseless and separated from our young and grown children. “American children are pulled out the front door towards harm while the back door is held open against our will for illegal aliens.”
What is creative about “State revenues aren’t down this year, they’re just growing more slowly than projected.”?
He’s right, state revenues are higher then they were last year. However they are not as large as state expected and therefore budgeted for. Isn’t this Pre-K program just like HeadStart program which at best as show slight improvement in kids performance and at worst is completely useless and spending tons of money anyways.
Where is the official project list for PWC and the costs of each? I would like to know what priorities have been set by the BOCS. We the People own our government (something it seems our BOCS have forgotten) and have the right to tell them what we want as priority projects! It will be interesting to see how much money is being wasted on ridiculous nonsense (”pet projects” of our BOCS). Once we get this information, we can cut the “fat” and divert that money to our illegal immigration issues. Who has the official list?
They can all start to find the money they need to enforce the resolution by handing over their “discretionary funds” that they use to buy votes in their magisterial districts, particularly the fat cat of all fat cats, John Jenkins, who is a serial abuser with the tax-payer’s money…no more discretionary funds for political gain…make ‘em budget their little projects for public inspection…
Surely there must be an “official” project list that is used by the BOCS to prioritize and manage the project portfolio for budget and reporting purposes?!? Additionally, this list needs to be available to the public for review/audit purposes!
Patriot:
Depends on what kind of projects you are talking about. Generall you’ll find the big projects in the CIP. Google it, you’ll find it. I haven’t read the County CIP but if it’s anything like the City’s it is full of infrastructure improvements that are pretty carefully programmed.
I can’t speak to the discretionary funds as the City doesn’t have those but we do have a pool of undesignated funds in the budget for stuff that comes up during the year. It’s hard to see all eventualities a year out and that seems to work well for us.
Hard to believe they are putting kids first over my money. I am so tired of my money paying for other peoples kids. Education should be for those who can afford it. What are a bunch of low income 4 year olds going to learn anyway.
So are illegal alien kids going to be eligible for the pre-K program?
A few months back, I remember looking at the costs, and they were about $4,000 per child. Now we recently had a kid in a preschool that we thought was expensive (definitely cost more than average), and it was $2,500! Kaine has also signalled a willingness to allow vouchers to be used at religious institutions for the pre-K program. I wonder hwat our friends on the left think of that?
I have a compromise solution: Let’s use the voucher idea for everyone in the K-12 schools first, and if more educational help is needed, then maybe we re-examine the pre-K issue.
Problem is most the kids are legal
you know born in the USA
on top of that they are mostly Catholic
Need to come up with a way to send them back with the parents
“Hard to believe they are putting kids first over my money. I am so tired of my money paying for other peoples kids. Education should be for those who can afford it. What are a bunch of low income 4 year olds going to learn anyway.”
What irony — and funny.
Anonymous 9:36: What does it matter if they are Catholic? I don’t follow the point you are trying to make?
All these make-work programs like Head Start do not result in any improvement long term in the child’s academic performance. It is taxpayer subsidized babysitting. Pay for your own childcare, parasites!
Kaine’s plan is just another scheme to create more dependency (and Democrat voters)
Patriot, the PWC BOCS goes through a very public budgeting process. The budget is not a secret. The work sessions are open to the public. The budget documents are available to the public. BOCS Supervisors even ask members of their districts to work with them during the budget review process to help them set priorities.
Are you sure you live in PWC? (Sorry, could resist since you accused me some days past of living in Arlington).
If you had paid attention some months ago during the county budgeting process you might be aware of these things. The BOCS has an upcoming budget session. I am certain that when county staff have their recommendations ready they will post the appropriate documentation online where the public can review them. I am sure that there is something in there that you might consider a pet project but there will probably be thousands of people who would disagree with you.
Johnatan Swift had the right idea but I think they might be a bit spicey. So monticup what you are saying is kids can not learn until after they are 4. If we could give free abortions this would not be problem.
I think everyone should FLOOD Governor Kaines office with phone calls asking him why he is cutting money to our police so he can put it to Pre K. So I guess it’s okay for robberies, rapes and murders to go unsolved to that a 4 year old can learn their abc’s. Let’s ask our governor what his priorities are. Obviously he doesn’t want us to feel safe. Let’s give his switchboard a meltdown!
Craig, I asked where the “official” list of projects is and the corresponding numbers are, not what the budgeting process is.
Greg,
Can you post Governor Kaines phone number? Thanks!
Craig said “I am sure that there is something in there that you might consider a pet project but there will probably be thousands of people who would disagree with you.”
And that many people might agree with me once scrutinization takes place!
Good article on WTOP news site reference the import, both state-wide and nationally, of the upcoming VA election cycle:
http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=213&sid=1260601
Those of you who are moaning and groaning over the 4 year old pre-school problem are ignoring the big 800 pound gorilla in the room, known as NCLB. I have yet to see the outrage over this federal government intrusion into our public schools.
If you wonder why your child’s school revolves around the remediation of minority children (and it does, even if you are not aware of it), look no further. This act is costing billions of dollars, is not improving education, and most of the money never makes it to the classroom. The gorilla is alive, well, and looking for reauthorization
Dolph, NCLB is a disaster! But adding another disaster to an existing disaster makes a double disaster.
There are good article on WTOP?
Wonder why its on AM
NGLB ( No gorilla left behind)
Maybe it is the word left that screwed it up
Actually the pre-k program was a campaign promise made by Kaine. I don’t have an opinion on it. Obviously early childhood education is of benefit or we wouldn’t pay the big bucks for our own kids to go to pre-school.
I expect it is being enacted to jump start kids so they can make the grade for NCLB. You can bet that any and all decisions made about education are to satisfy the great 800-pound gorilla. Get rid of the gorilla and you will see immediate improvements.
anonymous: Stop being absurd. I’m saying, pay for your own childcare, I did.
ok I get it
So what you’re saying is four year olds should get jobs and pay for preschool. This would make it easier on those unwed mothers who need to work
800…so what you are saying is…..that we should all pay for those “unwed” mothers with a bunch of kids? I don’t think so! They are responsible for raising those kids…not society at large.
http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty298.htm
“So why flood us with the world’s poor? Why eradicate our own working poor? Why drive our tradesman, construction jobs, roofers, fast food and truck drivers into a spiraling financial cesspool?”
Illegal kids cannot be exempted for Kaine’s Pre-headstart headstart. If it is provided to Virginia citizens it must be provided for the illegals also. I thought the state budget was “hurting so much that funds for police departments had to be cut.” Thank God he only has one term!
The political reality is, he is keeping his campaign promise to those who voted for him and he is pissing off those who didn’t vote for him in the first place.
Most people here have said they don’t mind paying whatever it takes to fix the illegal alien problem. I am wondering how much conviction folks will have if their property taxes go up several hundred dollars a month.
I think you missed my earlier comment most of the kids are legal the parents aren’t
I am so confused so we don’t want abortion and we don’t want to pay for the kids we did not abort ..right. So these kids’ future is up to an unwed mother who can not pay bills if she stays home but if she dosn’t stay home there is no one to watch the kid. So maybe we should force all unwed mothers to give up their babies to the state and sell them to pay for the good parents who have their kids in preschool.
As far as poor tradesman is concerned my next-door neighbor the Plummer just bought his 3rd house
Although maybe we could help the fast food guy out with a living wage or he could just move in with a bunch of people in one house to save money
Is “scrutinization” the same as “scrutiny?”
Advocator…what is your point.
800….uh….if the parents are illegal they must be deported (the kids can go with them).
“Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
scru·ti·nize /ˈskrutnˌaɪz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[skroot-n-ahyz] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, -nized, -niz·ing.
–verb (used with object) 1. to examine in detail with careful or critical attention.
–verb (used without object) 2. to conduct a scrutiny.
Also, especially British, scru·ti·nise.
——————————————————————————–
[Origin: 1665–75; scrutin(y) + -ize]
—Related forms
scru·ti·ni·za·tion, noun
scru·ti·niz·er, noun
scru·ti·niz·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1, 2. investigate, study, search.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.”
So what about the Kids who are born to legal mothers what do we do with them. We are taking about not paying for the poor kids right. The old concept of keep the poor stupid then they won’t know any better
I’ll tell ya the way people are suffering here in Prince William with all the taxes. I had to buy a smaller plasma tv because the big one wouldn’t fit in my tiny 4000 square foot home.
Greg maybe you could add a pledge jar to fund Mr. Stewarts proposed anti-illegal measures. This time we’ll ask your most vocal audience to voluntarily send a few extra hundred dollars on top of their property taxes as a showing of support.
dolph
few hundred dollars a month? you may live in a more expensive house than I, but my bill was about $3500 last year. Which is a few hundred dollars a month already. I doubt they will need to double my bill in order to cover 14 million over 5 years.
Here is my solution to illegals
We place Canadian Flags at the Mexican boarder.
Once they cross and see the Flags they will think they have gone to far and head back
You have to admit that was funny
Funny yes, but it just might work!!! Why don’t you send that to our President and Congress!!??
RE: Canadian Flags
PETA would have an issue with that, claiming it would confuse the goose migration.
God bless Jeck Reid:
“Del. Jack Reid, R-Henrico, who has earned a reputation for blunt comments, said the Democratic governor should stop blocking efforts to make state troopers more active in deporting illegal aliens who commit crimes. Kaine opposes allowing troopers to receive federal training in deportation processes though some localities have begun to require their officers to receive such instruction.”
DC Examiner:
http://tinyurl.com/2z6mf2
Times-Dispatch:
http://tinyurl.com/2hp3xz
Reid took Kaine to task for what he called manipulation over the selection of a chairman for the newly created Virginia Commission on Immigration.
During its first meeting last week, the commission named a moderate[sic] Republican, state Sen. John Watkins of Powhatan, over Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, a conservative who sponsored the legislation creating the panel.
Reid questioned a statement made by Watkins last week that he employs immigrants at his nursery. Watkins said yesterday that his workers include six Mexicans who are in the U.S. legally through the federal H2A program.
Reid said a task force that’s studying the impact of illegal immigrants on the criminal justice system needs to include legislative recommendations to address businesses that hire employees who aren’t in the country legally.
He also pointed to how Kaine rejected a request this year from Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell to allow the Virginia State Police to enter into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would give the agency certain powers.
“Virginia, because of a lack of executive leadership, is becoming a sanctuary state resulting in overcrowded schools, additional demands for English as a Second Language teachers and stresses on hospital emergency rooms providing primary health care for more and more people,” Reid said.
Kevin Hall, Kaine’s spokesman, called Reid’s assertions insulting and said the state has been working with federal officials to crack down on illegal immigration.
I’m already paying $4k a year in taxes on a townhouse that I might be able to sell for 275K now. I refuse to pay any more to subsidize the illegal alien community in the park. The mayor, town council, and treasurer will get a “stuff it” letter from me if my taxes go up and all my tax money will go into escrow until I either win a lawsuit against them or they take my house. The way values are dropping in this town I won’t have much equity by then any way so it won’t really matter to me what the outcome is. As long as I know they aren’t getting any more money from me then I will be perfectly content. I’ll just get a loan for a new house before the foreclosure hits my credit and get out of this tijuana fleabag town.
PWhome,
I certainly hope the taxes don’t double. I don’t think 14 million would make them double. However, these are strange times in the housing world and nothing much would surprise me.
I also am not advocating that we not enforce the resolution because of money. However, I expect there are those who will howl like stuck pigs if our taxes go up significantly. No elected official wants to deal with that. I believe it is only responsible to see what you have before you allocate money you might not have.
You and get a nice beach house in South America
Cheap
http://www.beachfrontbrazil.net/
matt 3 Oct 2007 at 2:45 pm:
Chris Core’s first hour this AM was about the supervisors and the resolution. He asked people to call in as how to fund the resolution and the majority of people said they would favor higher taxes rather than the keep the status quo with illegals. In fact, people outside the county called in and said they would donate $100 or more to get a fund rolling. The chairman of the BOCS was on the program explaining the decision and said to fund the program would cost about $8.00 for each resident. We should have a decision on the 16th.
freedom 3 Oct 2007 at 3:39 pm:
With the mentality of our government, they just might buy into that. Hmmmmmmm!
800 pound gorilla on 3 Oct 2007 at 8:01 pm:
Where? It ain’t Costa Rica!
The free Pre-K is another way that we are rolling out the red carpet for illegals. Our tax dollars need to be spent on law enforcement instead of doing things that will bring Virginia even more illegals.
As a stay at home mom, this pre-K stuff I’m hearing about is not only catered to low income mothers or families. I over hear conversation from other SAH mothers, that they themselves think the pre-K is a good idea. So that they can satisfiy themselves when their baby turns 4, the child is in “school” a.k.a “daycare”. So then these SAH moms can now go back to work to pay for their million dollar homes. If families are fortunate or willing to sacrifice and survive on one income, by all meand do it for your children. Your 4 year old needs to be with their MOMMY. I have two children in PW public school. The schools, classrooms, teachers etc. is where we need to focus, on to better our children’s future. Our 4 yr olds should be that a 4 yr olds in a loving, safe, nurturing, enviroment. Not riding on school buses, not sitting behind a desk, not having lunch in a cafeteria with the ever so scary “lunch ladies”. 4 yr olds should not be doing fire drills, lock down drills, tornado drills, emergency evactuation drills! I want money to go to take care of my 8 and 6 yr olds classrooms! Let ME take care of my 4 yr old.
SAHM -
I couldn’t agree more!
Look, the money for resolving our illegal immigration issues can come from re-prioritized projects. Illegal immigration is our highest priority now due to its many disasterous effects. It is time to redistribute money from lesser important projects. Once we start cutting benefits to illegals and their families…even more money will be freed up.
Here is a link to the county CIP: http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=040024000110004093
Windy, thanks! Okay…I took a quick look. There are quite a few areas in the “Community Development” section that can be cut back to free up money. Some of those items are surely not higher priority than resolving our illegal immigration problems.
Thank heaven for the progressive efforts of Arlington County to eradicate the evils of ethnic and racial profiling!
Way to go with that “Arlington Way”. Walter Tejada was spot on when he stated that “Enforcing immigration laws will lead to racial profiling.”
Apparently, and according to the below article, so will protecting sanctuary status.
Tax dollars are being spent… to serve and protect an exclusive “community”of law breakers.
http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2007/10/04/arlington/news/nws390.txt
“Bridget said on 4 Oct 2007 at 10:03 am:
Thank heaven for the progressive efforts of Arlington County to eradicate the evils of ethnic and racial profiling!
Way to go with that “Arlington Way”. Walter Tejada was spot on when he stated that “Enforcing immigration laws will lead to racial profiling.”
Briget, actually it is called “criminal profiling”.
http://www.rightmarch.com/media/SSA-SCHIP.pdf
This provides the justification of why SCHIP is not a good thing in its present state and why the VETO was the right thing to do. Contact your congressional reps to keep the veto as is. This SCHIP (in its present state) would be nothing other than more incentives for illegal aliens and their families!
The legal or illegal status of the children isn’t the issue, first is it good for children? the jury is out. IMHO, what’s best is to be home with their mother/father, learning by example with parents who read to them and stimulate them (read what SAHM said). Unfortunately the sad reality is we live in an area of two income families. Hence, what the Govenor is really proposing is subsidized day care at the expense of public safety.
Gary on 3 Oct 2007 at 12:09 am:
Don’t forget the “tied open” front storm doors.
“Proud American said on 4 Oct 2007 at 2:38 pm:
The legal or illegal status of the children isn’t the issue, first is it good for children?”
It certainly is about the legal status! According to the report I posted, there is NO way (in the present form of the bill) to prevent illegals from getting the benefits! That is…….drum roll please……an INCENTIVE! Incentives = more illegal aliens!
Well, this does nothing for me as my 4 1/2 year old is already receiving kindergarten level education at the PRIVATE daycare that I pay over $10k per year!
Ask me again in a few years when my youngest will be 4 and I might have a different view……I’d love to save $10k on daycare expenses!
Wow, BillyBoy - If you are willing to pay $10K for your child’s daycare (not even a pre-school) you must realize how important it is for all children to get pre-school education. Right? Nobody MAKES you send your child to such an expensive daycare place, I hope. Furthermore, you must have quite an income to afford it without getting foreclosure on your probably fairly nice home. But, of course, you WORK HARD, and those poor schmucks who don’t have enough money to pay for pre-school just float along and don’t deserve to get their children prepared for “real” school. Consequence: they don’t do as well in school which gives you cause to say that “those” kids just aren’t intelligent. Domino effect!
How do you expect kids to do well, if they aren’t given a chance? Kids are kids and are not responsible for how their parents came to this country. You were fortunate enough to choose the right kind of parents. Congratulations!
At least he’s not asking me to pay for it for him. I’ll give him kudos for that.
Whoever left that link to beachfrontbrazil.net, please note the ripoffreport.com complaint about that company. I wouldn’t do business with them.
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/0/275/RipOff0275786.htm