Now Thune Is Worried About Education Funding (So I Guess He Will Be Voting for Susan Wismer for Governor).

John Thune doubles down on a new bogey man for Obamacare.  Mike Rounds is trying the whole Grandma and Grandpa are going to be hurt by Obamacare lie, and got called out on it.  It appears that John Thune is going for a new scare tactic: protect the poor schools.  That is correct; you read it here.  John Thune wants to protect schools from having to make funding cuts.

Thune states that he is extremely worried about us coaches, English teachers, and FFA programs:

South Dakota students stay busy with a multitude of activities offered in our school districts. From track and drama club, to FFA and volleyball, extracurricular activities provide students with opportunities to learn teamwork, leadership, and life skills outside the classroom. Of course none of these would be possible without the coaches, teachers, and faculty advisors who work with these students. Many South Dakota teachers wear multiple hats; the math teacher is also the gymnastics coach and the English teacher is the play director. Retaining quality teachers and offering students the opportunity to participate in outside activities are important to a well-rounded education. 

I am sure that if you check his voting record on bills that would increase funding for such programs, you will find him always supporting education, right?

Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. 

Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers".
To increase appropriations for after-school programs through 21st century community learning centers. Voting YES would increase funding by $51.9 million for after school programs run by the 21st century community learning centers and would decrease funding by $51.9 million for salaries and expenses in the Department of Labor. 

Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies.
To provide an additional $5 billion for title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Voting YES would provide:

• $2.5 billion for targeting grants to local educational agencies

• $2.5 billion for education finance incentive grants  

Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. 

Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that would adjust education funding while still reducing the deficit by $5.4 billion. A YES vote would:

• Restore education program cuts slated for vocational education, adult education, GEAR UP, and TRIO.

• Increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $4,500 immediately.

• Increases future math and science teacher student loan forgiveness to $23,000.

• Pay for the education funding by closing $10.8 billion in corporate tax loopholes.

Okay, so maybe he has had a change of heart.  I tried pulling up the exact text of the bill he has offered and unfortunately the text is unavailable right now.  

If his new love for providing quality funding for education is real, then I am sure that he will be casting a vote for Susan Wismer in this year's election.  The one person that did the most harm to education in our state was Dennis Daugaard when he gutted education and blamed it on Mike Rounds.  Then has made sure to keep it at a level below when he got into office.  I have been in education for more than 15 years and work with teachers that have been teaching for more than 35 years.  The Daugaard administration has created one of the worst atmospheres for anyone in the education field (even more than Janklow).

By the way Senator Thune, here is another way that you can help schools.  Tell Daugaard to expand Medicare.  Students are stronger and more able to learn when they are healthy and they can afford to see a doctor for that cough instead of bring sickness to the school and missing several more days of class.  

I am also sure that you will support increased funding for special education from the federal government, since it is horribly lacking.

Thanks again for your support for Susan Wismer, Senator Thune!