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Senate should let school vouchers die a natural death

Re: Senate reverses, keeps hopes for vouchers alive, May 3.

In regard to the latest procedural move by Senate President Tom Lee, R-Valrico, to keep the voucher issue alive until the Legislature adjoins Friday, he states, "I have no plan or expectation of bringing this issue up." He then further states, "It felt good for the Senate to have it available."

This makes not a bit of sense.

I understand that I and many others have a difference of opinion with Senate President Tom Lee over whether public money should be spent on private schools in the form of a voucher, but firing Sen. Alex Villalobos, the Senate majority leader, because he listens to his own inner voice rather than the one talking to him on the phone in the form of Gov. Jeb Bush is petty! For too long, Jeb Bush has treated teachers and their unions as though they are the enemies of education, and while I am not a teacher, I care about where public money is spent.

So bring it up again, Sen. Lee, but the Florida Supreme Court in January threw vouchers out, saying they violated a constitutional prohibition on spending state money on private schools.

These schools, by the way, do not have to have the same standards as public schools. And they have smaller class sizes because they can afford to. This is wrong, and it is not a big surprise that Sen. Lee is bending the rules like a pretzel to keep this issue from dying a natural death.

Ronda Baer, Seffner

Focus on fixing public schools

Sen. Tom Lee should know we are greatly distressed over the move to push the voucher system on an electorate that is blatantly against it.

The condition of the public school system should be fixed as a first priority. It is broken. Please appraise the top-heavy educational administration and push to streamline it. This will save millions of dollars that can be used for the teaching of children.

To fund religious and charter schools that do not have control and accreditation is foolish and expensive.

Dale Remington, Zephyrhills

A dark day for government

Re: Cost of votes: Loss of top job, May 2.

State Senate President Tom Lee has fired Alex Villalobos as Senate majority leader for failing to toe the party line on the class size amendment and vouchers.

I now believe that our government is truly dead. Don't the senators represent the people or is it just their own self-interest?

I applaud Villalobos for voting as the people of the state want and not caving in to the few. Vouchers are wrong and I hope the issue will be put to rest. I will actively campaign against those who voted for it.

Mary Sweeney, St. Petersburg

Villalobos did the right thing

Re: Cost of votes: Loss of top job.

Congratulations to Sen. Alex Villalobos for voting his conscience and doing what he thought was right rather than voting to satisfy the party line. We should have more politicians willing to vote this way - the way their constituents feel - not what the party "big wigs" want. Then we will truly have a government "of the people" not a "government of the politicians." Shame on Tom Lee.

Our school tax dollars are better spent in improving public education and schools rather than funding private schools.

Kay Hill, Brooksville

Heed the will of the people

Re: Bush suffers vouchers defeat, May 2.

Ya' gotta love him. Gov. Jeb Bush says he's "disappointed that the citizens of Florida were not given the opportunity to be heard."

Oh, but they were - loud and clear. He claims that opposing senators "turned their backs" on the 30,000 students in his voucher programs. The truth is, they listened to their constituents and voted accordingly. The voters wanted no part of their tax money being used to fund private schools that are not held to the same standards (such as the FCAT) as public schools.

It was simply another Bush scam to tear down the separation between church and state and pander to the religious right. When election time rolls around again, let's remember those senators who had the courage to represent the people, not a party.

Bob Dalzell, St. Petersburg

Students are the real victims

The front page of the May 2 Times has a headline that reads, Bush suffers vouchers defeat.

The real victims are the students in poor schools.

Those politicians who voted against vouchers evidently don't care about these children, who are growing up with an inadequate education. I am embarrassed that this defeat is considered a victory for the teachers' union.

Judith Goldsberry, Clearwater

Putting corporate interests first

Re: There's more to the energy bill than the flip of a switch, May 2.

Until I read Howard Troxler's column, I had no idea what the Legislature was up to this year. SB 888/HB1473 amounts to a legislative limbo dance - how low can you go? It is a cynical betrayal of public welfare for corporate interests.

The merits of nuclear power for the generation of electricity certainly deserve public debate and review. We know that France has been very successful in generating electricity from nuclear power. It is one way to meet growing energy needs.

But this legislation is not about nuclear energy. It is about legalizing theft. This legislation guarantees dividends for utility stockholders while ratepayers assume all the risk and fund the capitalization. Capitalism holds that investors who assume risks are entitled to profits. This legislation rejects capitalism. It is not even socialism or communism. It is insanity.

This legislation must be stopped.

C.D. Chamberlain, Spring Hill

Taking sides

Re: Sen. Wilson misses a day after mugging in Miami, May 2.

Sen. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat, is quoted as yelling, "Mister, I'm on your side!" after being mugged in Miami. I'm sure that her constituents can all rest easier knowing that their senator is on the side of purse-snatching thugs! Perhaps her attacker should choose a Republican next time.

Sharon Godfrey, Pinellas Park

The Limbaugh standard

Re: Limbaugh cuts deal in drug case, April 29.

I wonder if other people who have committed the same or similar drug crimes as Rush Limbaugh may expect the same kind of courtesy when facing drug charges in Florida courts? Let's hope that they get off with nothing but going to a rehab center and then moving on with their lives, just like Rush. Only spending a hour or so in jail, never missing work, and getting to spin their venom at the rest of us.

Will the people of Florida accept this man's actions and the way it was handled as a standard for other fellow Floridians and Americans in general? It just proves the old saying, "If you've got enough money, you can get away with anything in this country."

Lloyd J. Minter, Clearwater

Harris remains attractive

I follow your articles on Katherine Harris - a steady tirade against her. I am one reader who is not shaken up. I've watched Harris since the Gore-Bush election in 2000, and I feel that although she may be a down-and-dirty politician, she is attractive and always interesting. In fact, I question whether she is a whole lot different from the run-of-the-mill pols we have in Tallahassee or Washington, D.C., right now.

I enjoy your stories about the gal, even though I am a lifelong Democrat. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a good-looking girl - or a tough fighter.

Ralph Hovind, Dunedin

[Last modified May 4, 2006, 07:15:44]