CourierJournalEditorial:Stalwartsandwimps

Whatadifferenceanewadministrationmakes.DoesanyonedoubtthatErnieFletcherwouldhavesignedsomethinglikeSenateBill1,ifMajorityLeaderDanKellyandSenatePresidentDavidWilliamshadmanagedtogetthethingpassed?

It'ssupposedtobetheSenateGOPhonchos'toppriority,althoughtheyhavetreateditlikejustanotheropportunitytograndstandagainstschoolreform.It'safavoriteofthosewhowouldliketodiscreditthepublicschoolsandde-legitimizeteacherorganizations,inordertoopenthewayforpubliclyfinancedprivateschoolvouchers.

ThegoodnewsisthatSteveBeshear,notErnieFletcher,isgovernornow,andhepromisedtovetoanysuchbill.HecouldhavedoneaDavidWilliamsnumberandsniffedthathe"foundlittleinterest"inSB1.Instead,helaidoutthespecificreasons--sharedbroadlyintheeducationcommunity--foropposingthisverybadbill.

TakingastandwithhimwasHousebudgetchairmanHarryMoberly,D-Richmond,whopredictedaftertheGovernor'spressconferencethatthelegislationwon'tmakeitoutoftheHouse.

GototheCourierJournalLinkfortheentireeditorial: 

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/OPINION01/803070395

--CourierJournal;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor