Back at the end of August, Bluestem posted "Breathtaking chutzpa": House Tax Czar Greg Davids haz it, DL Online sez. Now the New Ulm Journal is giving thumbs down to more Republicans, though using a variant spelling of the Yiddish word, for their chutzpah about school funding.
In That's chutzpah!, the editorial board writes:
THUMBS DOWN: The classic definition for the Yiddish word "chutzpah" (an excess of nerve or gall) is the man who kills his parents, then begs the court for mercy because he's an orphan.
A newer definition could be the Republican legislators, like Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, chairman of the House Education Finance Committee, who aren't happy about the fact that one-third of school districts in the state are asking for tax levy referendums this November. Garofalo says schools got a $50 per pupil unit increase this year, and shouldn't use property taxes "to go back for a second bite of the apple." Another, State Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, has reportedly sent a newsletter to constituents asking them to contact school officials about proposed levy referendums and "urge them to drop their request."
To freeze school funding levels year after year, to withhold school funding payments session after session to balance the state's budget, to force schools to cut millions from their budgets and programs to stay solvent, and then to criticize districts for going to the taxpayer to ask for an additional levy to avoid more cuts?
That's chutzpah! These legislators should be ashamed for what they are doing to Minnesota's public schools.
The Winona Daily News has suggested that Steve Drazkowski can't be shamed as he has none.
Image: Chocolate Drazombie bunny, by Tild.
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Following Drazkowski's shameful lead, MN House Republicans to oppose school levies
The shame of southeast Minnesota: Drazkowski tells constituents to starve local public school
K12 education funding to schools increased $50 per student (but dollars related to debt relief)
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