Politics & Government
Former State Rep Critical of Corbett Budget Plan
Governor's agenda would hurt students, former State Representative Karen Beyer says.
Making an impromptu visit to a minority community forum on education held at Greater Shiloh Church in Easton May 21, former State Representative Karen Beyer strongly criticized fellow Republicans' plans to cut state spending on education by $1.1 billion and institute a voucher system in Pennsylvania.
Beyer represented the 131st legislative district, which includes part of Lower Saucon Township, from 2005 until early this year.
“Next week, the budget will be debated in Harrisburg,” Beyer said. “These are dangerous times. $1.1 billion is on the table.”
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She said that unlike the Rendell administration, which made education a priority, Governor Tom Corbett is only interested in pursuing a political agenda.
“It's very simple. The governor wants to privatize public education. He wants to break the back of the unions,” Beyer said. “And he wants to make a profit on it.”
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Easton Area School Board president Kerry Myers said the proposed school voucher system would be devastating for local school districts and wouldn't help students.
“If a voucher system is passed, this child could, say, go to Saucon Valley, (but only) if Saucon Valley accepts him,” Myers said, noting that under the proposal local school districts would still be responsible for transporting students to and from school, at their own cost, as well as transferring local school tax dollars to the other school system, to the detriment of those students who remain in their home district.
The added distances and destinations would greatly increase transportation costs for each district, he added.
“Just because you have a voucher doesn't mean your child will go to a better school,” Myers said.
Beyer said the solution to the problem is for constituents to contact their local elected officials in Harrisburg and clearly let them know their feelings.
“You must be involved. You cannot let the 10 to 15 percent of the voters who bother to vote control the situation,” she said. “These are serious issues, and we need to pay attention.”