The voter's guide came in the mail today, and I flipped right to the section on 4204, the Simple Majority resolution. It's the same arguments that you've heard if you've paid any attention to the issue; the piece that caught my eye was that Angie Dorman, a "nationally recognized teacher, 2006 American Star of Teaching" was one of the people listed preparing the argument against the amendment, along with Sen. Janea Holmquist, Rep. Ed Orcutt, and a cast of others.
I've highlighted Ms. Dorman's writing here
before, for an editorial she wrote criticizing the WEA union dues blowup from the spring. She's teaches in Warden, a small district with a high migrant population south of Moses Lake. And apparently, like Bob Morton, she also
hates democracy. Let's look at some of the positions Ms. Dorman is signing her name to:
*If these constitutional protections are removed, your property taxes will increase faster. and
Property taxes will go up with this measure. Absolutely false. 4204 doesn't raise taxes, it changes election law, and if the people of the community vote to raise their taxes, that's democracy.
*...making housing less affordable for seniors and working families. Absolutely false. Seniors always have the option to file and say that they can't afford their property taxes because they're on a fixed income--
thousands do, and are
actively encouraged to do so--and school taxes are a minuscule portion of the property tax formula. I also think it's telling that one of the groups signed on against 4204 is the Washington Farm Bureau, along with a pair of commercial foresters--do you think they're really worrying about the working family, or their own vast land holdings?
*Should a small minority be able to raise your taxes? Absolutely not, but the absurd rationalization they give of an election with 100 voters is just laughable. In this day of vote-by-mail, you have the ability to vote against a school levy if you want to. It doesn't matter what time of year it is or what day it's on--mail in your ballot, and your voice will have been heard.
But this isn't about an out-of-control minority that wants to raise your taxes--this is about the minority that opposes any tax increase and likes the power that a 60% supermajority gives them. Under the supermajority a no vote is worth 50% more than a yes vote, and that's undemocratic, period.
*It's time legislators and the governor make funding education #1. I am absolutely embarrassed for them that they would put this line in their screed. Let's go to the scorecard from the
Children's Alliance, who publishes a
report card on the voting records of our state legislators. In the two star category, about as low as you can go: Holmquist and Orcutt. Both voted against SB5841, which began the phase-in of all-day kindergarten, and they both voted against this year's state budget, which had all the extra money for schools in it.
By the by, do you want to know a district that DOES have full-day K for their kids? Why, that would be
Warden, where Ms. Dorman teaches. Makes sense, since they have a highly migrant population. Isn't that nice for them?
She also has her
travel paid for by the EFF,
advocates for Northwest Professional Educators, and in fact serves on their
board of directors.By all accounts, Ms. Dorman is a sensational teacher. There's no disputing the good that she's done for kids in a tough, tough environment. By standing against the simple majority she's working to deny other kids throughout Washington the same things that she would want for her own students, and that's morally indefensible.
Shame on her.
Labels: Simple Majority
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