It’s one thing to talk about excessive federal spending as a topic of election-time rhetoric. But political talking points are shaping up to become drastic cuts that will harm Missouri’s children.
At issue is $189 million from the federal government to help retain staff at public schools in the face of an economic downturn. The money was intended to help save jobs, but it didn’t arrive before about four-fifths of Missouri’s schools reduced staff.
Because of that, legislators now have different ideas of what to do with that money.
One of the worst ideas involves sending it back.
According to The Associated Press, a few Republican state senators want to reject the $189 million of federal money. They view it as a symbolic statement of dissatisfaction and unhappiness with the federal debt.
Sen. Jim Lembke is one of a few calling for the rejection. He says because the money is driving up the federal debt, we should send it back — as if the Fed is waiting with bated breath to make a payment on our debt with that money.
Education funding at the state level is always tricky. State Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, always referred to the state budget as a pie they have to serve, and elementary and secondary education gets one of the biggest pieces and a dollop of whipped cream.
It’s only natural that education becomes one of the biggest targets for cuts. Legislators don’t get control of all of the money that comes from the federal government — most of it is sent with specific purposes in mind and must be spent that way.
Even though the money is not going to be used for its intended purpose — preventing staff reductions — it should stay with schools. That $189 million could go a long way in staving off cuts that will further affect Missouri students.
Fortunately, other members of Lembke’s party don’t think it’s a good idea. Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said that the money would just be redistributed to other states.
“You can make a statement by not taking the money,” said Schaefer, who holds former Sen. Gary Nodler’s old position of chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee. “But by doing that, all you’re doing is penalizing grade-school kids.”
We hope Missouri’s Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly remember that they were elected to represent Missourians, not the entire country. We need them to do what’s best for the Show-Me State, not try to address national political talking points.
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