Public Education Crisis

By John R. Mitchel

Letter sent to US Representatives and Senators of Ohio offering a solution to the public education crisis.

Dear U.S. Congressional delegate,

My name is John Mitchel, and I am the Reform Party candidate for Governor of Ohio. You may recall receiving my report last Fall entitled, "An Economic and Political Analysis of NAFTA and Fast Track Negotiation Authority". I'm sure you are well aware of the outcome of that debate. But just as important, this illustrates that while my opponents in the November 3^rd election were out raising money from wealthy campaign donors and special interests, the Reform Party was solving the problems of middle-class Americans.

On February 17^th, in a "Letter to the Editor' published in the Beavercreek News, I called for educators and concerned citizens to form an education summit right here in Ohio's 7^th District, and when no one responded, we developed a plan of our own, which I have attached to my letter to you today. Furthermore, on March 19^th, during "Ohio's Talking", a Ohio News Network production, I announced our plan to solve the education funding crisis exposed by DeRolph v. State. It is a straightforward approach that raises nearly $2 billion, without raising taxes, and without addressing what we believe to be another equally awesome source of revenue for Ohio schools—the bloated State bureaucracy.

The school funding solution is simple—we must give public education a much higher priority than dead last. It includes reallocating $400 - $500 million from the Ohio surplus, commonly called the "rainy day" fund. As you may have noticed, it's raining "cats and dogs" on public education in Ohio. Second, and Ohio Treasurer Ken Blackwell agrees, we can save $800 million by making sure only those that qualify receive Medicaid benefits and other entitlements. Finally, we can selectively remove tax breaks to the wealthy and cut "corporate welfare" by ten percent to save another $800 million. But let's only eliminate those tax loopholes that benefit a very small sector of society (such as those that Issue 1 would have provided), and add other incentives that create a win-win situation for everyone. An example would be private financing to solve the school facility crisis. More specifically, we could use venture capital to build 21st Century schools, and then lease them back to the school districts and the private sector to use as technical training facilities.

Americans don't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican—they just want you to conduct the business of "We the People". Just as Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected the major-parties' agenda in the May 5^th primary, they will also reject yours on November 3^rd, unless you put aside party loyalties and start doing what's right for those that hired you, and I don't mean your big campaign contributors. You may rest assured that the Reform Party will be watching - and teaching - and supporting those candidates who support our agenda. Remember, this may be the first election where ideas, accountability and character overpower money, irresponsibility and greed.

Yours truly,

John R. Mitchel

Attachment: The Reform Party Vision for the State of Ohio