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U.S. NEWS Saturday 14 april 2018

Teacher victory: Kentucky lawmakers override budget veto

By BRUCE SCHREINER and poison because they were
ADAM BEAM home alone because a
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — With single parent didn't have
the chants of hundreds of any money to take care of
teachers ringing in their them. I'm offended by the
ears, Kentucky lawmakers idea that people so cava-
voted Friday to override the lierly and so flippantly disre-
Republican governor's veto garded what's truly best for
of a two-year state budget children." A spokesman for
that increases public edu- the Kentucky Education As-
cation spending with the sociation declined to com-
help of a more than $480 ment on Bevin's remarks.
million tax increase. Stephanie Ikanovic, who
The votes came as thou- has been a teacher for 21
sands of teachers rallied years, said earlier in the
inside and outside the day she did not want to be
Capitol, forcing more than out of her classroom, but
30 school districts to close said she felt compelled to
as Kentucky continued the come to Frankfort to advo-
chorus of teacher protests cate for her students.
across the country. The rally "I want to be in my class-
took on a festival-like at- room instructing future
mosphere in Kentucky as citizens, but I'm afraid that
some teachers sat in lawn spending at the state level Teachers from across Kentucky gather outside the state Capitol to rally for increased funding and
chairs or sprawled out on is getting worse and worse, to protest changes to their state funded pension system, Friday, April 13, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky.
blankets. Crosby Stills, Nash and we need those dollars Associated Press
and Young's hit "Teach Your for a 21st century educa-
Children" bellowed from tion," she said. sexual harassment scandal. to spare, the Republican- of walkouts Thursday, shift-
the loud speakers. The two-year state operat- "You can stand here all day controlled Senate voted ing their focus to electing
Republican Gov. Matt Bev- ing budget includes record and act like you are all for 20-18 to override the tax in- pro-education candidates
in noticed the teachers, new spending for public (education) until it comes crease veto. In a dramatic in November. Gov. Mary
too. He told reporters he education, fueled by a 50- time to pay for it. Well, moment, Senate President Fallin signed legislation
saw them hanging out with cent increase in the ciga- that's a coward," said Re- Robert Stivers cast the de- raising teacher salaries by
their shoes off, smoking and rette tax and a 6 percent publican Rep. Regina Huff, cisive vote for the override. about $6,100 and provid-
"leaving trash around." He sales tax on some services a middle school special The Senate later voted 26- ing millions in new educa-
bemoaned the "hundreds including home and auto education teacher. "We 12 to override the budget tion funding, but many say
of thousands of children" he repair. But Bevin vetoed have to have this revenue veto. schools need more money.
says were likely left home both the budget and the to fund our schools." The unrest comes amid Kentucky teachers haven't
alone because schools money in it, calling the bills Democrats sided with the teacher protests in Oklaho- asked for a raise. They are
were closed and some par- "sloppy" and "non-transpar- governor, but for different ma and Arizona over low instead focused on educa-
ents likely did not have time ent." He said they would reasons. They said the tax funding and teacher pay. tion funding and a battle
to find child care. not raise enough money to increase disproportion- The demonstrations were over their pensions. Ken-
"I guarantee you some- cover the new spending. ately harms the poor while inspired by West Virginia tucky has one of the worst-
where in Kentucky today a The veto put Republican benefiting the wealthy. teachers, whose nine-day funded pension systems in
child was sexually assault- lawmakers in a tough po- They wanted the vetoes to walkout after many years the country, with the state
ed that was left at home sition, asking them to vote stand, forcing the governor without raises led to a 5 at least $41 billion short of
because there was no- a second time on a tax in- to call a special session of percent pay hike. what it needs to pay retire-
body there to watch them," crease in an election year. the state legislature to pass In Arizona, after weeks ment benefits over the next
Bevin said, according to a But 57 House Republicans, a new budget. of teacher protests and 30 years. Earlier this month,
video posted to Twitter by later joined by just enough The House voted 57-40 to walkout threats across the lawmakers voted to pass a
a reporter for WDRB-TV. "I Senate Republicans, voted override the veto of the tax state, Gov. Doug Ducey bill that preserves benefits
guarantee you somewhere to override, asserting their increase and 66-28 to over- promised a net 20 percent for most workers but moves
today a child was physi- independence after a tu- ride the veto of the bud- raise by 2020. In Oklahoma, new hires into a hybrid
cally harmed or ingested multuous year marred by a get. Later, without a vote teachers ended two weeks plan.q