Bobby Jindal said in a 2015 address to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) that teachers are still at their jobs only by virtue of their being able to breathe.
That was when he was touting his ambitious education reform package that was designed to promote and enrich the operators of charter and virtual schools by pulling the financial rug from under public education in Louisiana.
That, of course, only served to further demoralize teachers and to punish those students from low-income families who could not afford charter schools but all that mattered little to Jindal. And perhaps it’s no coincidence that his former chief of staff Steve Waguespack now heads LABI.
Lest one think that sorry attitude toward teachers and the teaching profession went away in January 2016 when Jindal exited the governor’s office, leaving a fiscal mess for his successor, John Bel Edwards, think again.
Here’s a little wakeup call for those of you who may have been lulled into a false sense of security now that the husband of a teacher occupies the governor’s office: That disdain for public education has carried over into the halls of Congress via this proposed new tax bill now being ironed out between the House and Senate.
Much has already been written about how the tax bill is supposed to benefit the middle class when in reality it does just the opposite—yet those blindly loyal zealots, those supporters of child molesters, those adherents of the Republican-can-do-no-wrong-because-they-wrap-themselves-in-a-flag-and-wave-a-bible-in-one-hand-and-a-gun-in-the-other mantra continue to drink the Kool-Aid and cling to the insane theory that Trump, Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell, Bill Cassidy and John Neely Kennedy have their best interests at heart.
These delusional people get all bent out of shape when a jock refuses to kneel at a football game because they consider it an affront to our military (it’s not) while this tax bill rips more than $40 billion from HUD, including programs that help provide housing for homeless VETERANS. How’s that for honoring our fighting men and women? Where the hell are your real priorities?
Any of you die-hard Republicans out there on Medicare? Are you ready to take a $25 billion HIT? You will under this tax “reform.”
All you Trump supporters who have been so critical of the federal deficit prepared to see that deficit increased by a whopping $1.4 trillion? Sens. Cassidy and Kennedy are. So are Reps. Steve Scalise, Clay Higgins, Mike Johnson, Ralph Abraham and Garrett Graves.
Those of you with college kids presently on tuition exemptions like TOPS might want to get ready; your son or daughter is going to have to declare those benefits as taxable income. Is that why you voted Republican?
And while all this is going down, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the proposed tax “reform” will eliminate the tax on inherited fortunes (you know, the kind that made Donald Trump Donald Trump) and will maintain the “carried interest” loophole which taxes the fees of private-equity fund managers (read: the mega-rich, Wall Street bankers, etc.) at low capital gains rates instead of the higher income tax rates.
But after all that’s said and done, the part of the tax bill that really turns my stomach, the part that sticks in my throat, is a provision that is of so small an amount as to be insignificant—if it weren’t for the principle of the whole thing.
Call it a carry over from Jindal, a snub of teachers, or whatever, it’s galling.
Here it is:
Teachers, particularly elementary teachers, traditionally spend hundreds of dollars per year of their own money on materials and supplies for their classrooms. And it’s not for them, it’s for the children. Keep that in mind, folks. While there are parents out there who would rather buy meth and booze and cigarettes than supplies for their kids, there are teachers who quietly enter the school supply stories and stock up so that kid will have a chance.
Call it personal, if you wish, and it might well be. When I was a student at Ruston High School, I was injured right after school one day. My English teacher, Miss Maggie Hinton, never hesitated. She led me to her powder blue 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air and took me to Green Clinic—and paid the doctor to patch me up. You never hear the Jindals of the world tell those kinds of stories. They don’t fit their agenda.
Under the present tax laws, these teachers, who on average spend $500 to $600 per year (school principals, by the way spend an average of $683 of their own money annually on snacks and other food items for students, decorations and supplies like binders and paper), can take a tax deduction of up to $250 for those expenditures. (And to interject a very personal story, once, while I was making a purchase for a school in Livingston Parish at Clegg’s Plant Nursery, the owner would not accept my money. He donated the items because he, too, supports public education.)
Now understand, that’s a tax deduction of up to $250, not a tax credit, which would be a dollar-for-dollar tax cut. A deduction benefits the teacher only $40 or so off her taxes. But at least it’s something.
The Senate version of the new tax bill would double that deduction to $500, thank you very much.
So, what’s my beef?
Nothing much…except the HOUSE version would eliminate the deduction in its entirety.
That’s right. While the Republicans want to take care of the fat cats (those in Trump’s income bracket would realize tax breaks of approximately $37,000), teachers, under the House version of this tax bill would no longer get even that paltry $40. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing. Thank you, Garrett Graves, et al.
That really angers me and it should anger every person in Louisiana with even a scintilla of a conscience.
Because teachers are my heroes. Nearly fifty-seven years after graduating from Ruston High School, my heroes are still named Hinton, Ryland, Perkins, Garner, Lewis, Peoples, Edmunds, Barnes, Johnson, Garrett & Garrett (any I omitted is only because I took no classes under them). They took a personal interest in a kid with no real promise and made him a little better person. They and my grandparents alone have stood the test of what a true hero should be.
And I am proud to defend the honor of teachers everywhere in their memory.
And the fact that five Louisiana House members—who, by the way, are all up for reelection in 2018—voted for this tax “reform” bill that slaps my heroes in the face really pisses me off.
Did I mention those five are up for reelection next year? That’s 2018, less than a year from now.
A smart voter remembers who represents him.
Those not so smart should go fishing on election day.
Louisiana Voice 
Tom, With All the rotten things that were “done” during the Jindal Administration, why were there never any attempts to file Criminal Charges against “someone” for all of the missing Money?? There had to be Grand Larceny, Embezzlement, something ILLEGAL that happened. Am I misinformed??
Thank You, Tom for your continued CRUSADE to keep everyone INFORMED!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to You and your Family!!
Bob
Perhaps the only way to educate voters who lack any skills in discernment or information gathering, is to rent one of those digital billboards along I-10 where the traffic comes to a halt going to and from work. Broadcast those tidbits from the tax bill so these Trumpettes see exactly how their ox will be gored.
Tom another great article.
Teachers know more about the children in there classrooms than some parents know about their own children because they take the time to find out what makes each kid tick.
Teachers spend extra time with some students for them to catch up with the rest of the class while some parents couldn’t care less if their child passes or fails.
I have substituted for many teachers over the years using their planned guide for the day and I can tell you teachers more than earn their money—every single penny of it. Some students are so rude, disrespectful and downright filthy, like they slept in the clothes they were wearing that day to class. I never took one penny to take a teachers place. I always volunteered because I felt that a teacher shouldn’t have to use one of their sick days to have a needed day off.
Every parent should have to spend at least one day in a classroom to see first hand what these teachers have to put up with in a day. They would never complain about a teacher ever again.
I have seen teachers spend their own money to help students who didn’t have the proper supplies for their class work. They pull a lot of dollars out of their own pockets to buy extra material to help those students advance.
The last people on earth who should not be taxed to death are our teachers and they should be able to claim what they spend out of their pocket on supplies in their classrooms and that amount should be tax free because they are giving the supplies away to the needy children. All supplies that any teacher purchases for that classroom should be tax exempt. Why tax the teachers and let the large corporations who are making millions go free? This is so unfair.
Everyone please call your House members or email them to let them know not to mess with our teachers. let them do what they do best, teach the kids everything they can in the time they are allowed each day.
And don’t forget to vote.
I always vote and did not vote for Graves. He has done an excellent job of not doing a damn thing for our citizens and on the basis of that I believe I’ll probably vote against him again. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to put probably in the previous sentence. Feel free to join me if you like.
Bob- there is hope and an alternative. Watch this space for news tomorrow of a Democrat candidate to challenge Graves. A person who will oppose the immoral tax scam the repubs in Congress are attempting to force on us. Keep the faith.
That’s great news. I’m anxiously awaiting the announcement.
JUSTIN DEWITT IS A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE FOR
LOUISIANA’S SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
A HARD WORKER FOR LOUISIANA
For Immediate Release December 11, 2017
CONTACT:
Media Information: Jerel Giarrusso, Tel. 225.235.0484; email Jerel.Giarrusso@gmail.com
Campaign Information: Scott Cornelius, Tel. 225.328.5468; email scottcorne6@gmail.com
Justin DeWitt, Democrat, today announced his candidacy for Congress, in the 6th Congressional District of Louisiana, a seat now held by Congressman Garret Graves. The election will be held in November 2018.
DeWitt was born in Sulphur, Louisiana, graduated from Zachary High School in the city of Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish, and has lived and worked in Baton Rouge for over a decade. As a closeted gay youth, DeWitt witnessed the passage of state legislation telling him he couldn’t get married, found out he could be fired if he came out of the closet, and was told that no one even wanted the blood in his veins. At the same time, Justin also worked 40 hours per week throughout high school, which developed the driving work ethic that has defined his adult life and propelled him directly into his career as a land surveyor. These experiences motivated him to get involved in politics.
As a surveyor, Justin has driven all over the state and been involved in the planning and construction of countless infrastructure projects. This experience has given him a first-hand look at the miserable traffic that chokes the region, both as a driver and in the construction of new projects. He has worked hard every day to better himself and his family, while confronting the daily struggles of life in south Louisiana.
In 2016, Justin hosted friends after their home flooded, before having his own house flood as well. After the flood he stayed in his own gutted out townhouse for a month while working just to get the supplies necessary to repair the damage to his house himself. It was sitting in that hollowed out house, fighting to regain dignity, that made him decide to run for Congress. The disaster relief system in this country simply does not work and Justin became determined to do everything he can to make it work for Louisiana and the country.
To that end, Justin intends to work just as hard as he did in school, in his career, and in rebuilding his flooded home, to make this system work for everyone, as well as work toward solutions to the many other problems and issues facing Louisiana’s sixth Congressional district, our state and our nation.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.dewittforcongress.com.
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Excellent points.
Never forget, we now have the billionaire wife of the former head of the largest pyramid operation in our history, Amway, as U. S. Secretary of Education. Note the following from Wikipedia:
“Betsy and her husband Dick are chief investors in and board members of Neurocore, a group of brain performance centers offering biofeedback therapy for disorders such as depression, attention deficit disorder, autism, and anxiety.[53][54][55] The therapy consists of showing movies to patients and interrupting them when they become distracted, in an effort to retrain their brains. According to The New York Times, a review of Neurocore’s claims and interviews with medical experts suggest that the company’s conclusions are unproven and its methods questionable.[53] Democratic senators raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest and questioned whether she and her family members would “benefit financially from actions” she could take as education secretary. DeVos announced that she would step down from the company’s board but would retain her investment in the company, valued at $5 million to $25 million.[53][56][57]”
Now, I ask you, how much do you believe Ms. DeVos knows or cares about public education? I would say only enough to try to get rid of it.
I bring this up in the context of this piece because it begs us to wonder how, just as we seemed to be making a modest recovery from losses in the quality of public education over many decades, we allowed ourselves to come under the control of a group of people who believe in nothing but personal power, profit and the accumulation of wealth and who, obviously, want to utterly destroy public education.
I really wish I had never heard the names Jindal and Trump. The rest are just riding the train from which Jindal has already fallen. May that train derail – and quickly, or it will run over all of us who have not acquired enough wealth to shield us from their actions.
When someone finds words to justify this gnawing, distressing concern that lives in the pit of my stomach now, it is both comforting and frightening. The fear is legitimate, isn’t it, that we may be sitting here watching this wonderful experiment that was the United States of America come to an end, philosophically anyway, if not actually.
That is a great point, Tom. LSU students or their parents will need to pay tax on the $8000 of TOPS they get each year. At 20% tax, that is $6400 over a four year degree. Worse than that, they will have to either pay higher tuition or attend much larger classes with fewer teaching assistants because those teaching assistants are grad students who have much higher rates of tuition waived as part of their TA appointment. Those tuition waivers will also be taxed, either making grad school unaffordable for many or forcing LSU to cover the cost by jacking up undergraduate tuition. The best solution, I think, is to reverse the Jindal shell game of reducing the direct appropriation for higher education, shifting part of those funds into TOPS, and allowing universities to increase tuition. Under the GOP tax ripoff, it makes sense to end TOPS entirely and use the funds saved to refund the higher education direct appropriation in return for universities agreeing to slash tuition. That will keep those tax dollars in Louisiana instead of sending them to Washington so they can be redistributed to the super wealthy who kickback a percentage to the politicians, on both sides of the aisle.
It is sad that everything is for sale in Louisiana and they are using the most important thing to destroy our children’s future, a college education and the entire education system.
My God, the DuVoses are in charge of Neurocore, Could they be trying to implement some of those practices into the school system?
Could they be planning on using our children in the school system for experimental purposes? This really make you wonder just why a person like DuVos would have been chosen over our education system and with all the money she has, why she would want to? Does she have a hidden agenda?
Am I way off base on this one because I just can’t find any reason for her to have been picked for this position?
Louisiana voters should also be aware that under Jindal 3 major tax breaks were passed to rob the treasury of desperately needed funds. The first was a $5k credit to any household with children NOT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Soon that tax credit for students in private, parochial or home schools was increased to $5k per child per household. And the worst was HB 969 (2012) which gives individuals and corporations bottom line tax credits for donating “scholarships” to private and parochial schools. The “donors” get a kickback of 95% of their donation while avoiding taxes.
This bill is a two-fold damager, first to LA tax coffers as it eliminates payment of taxes that otherwise would be owed, and second because it further depletes the treasury by requiring a rebate to the “donors” from the treasury. As in all GOP/corporate scams it has been duplicated throughout the US. One can read about it and the many GOP controlled states now offering it by searching articles under “Ed Choice”.
I’ve been disappointed not to see this repealed under John Bel Edwards who champions public education. In order to regain some balance and programs for public education it is urgent we replace the whores masquerading as GOP legislators in LA.
https://www.louisianabelieves.com/schools/louisiana-scholarship-program
http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/school-choice-scholarship-tax-credits.aspx
I wonder how much of all this is backlash against teachers and professors that teach that capitalism is wrong and progressivism is good? Among other things like the perception that there is an agenda to teach left leaning viewpoints.
Don’t fret Tom, however that tax bill fails to screw us out of John Bel Edwards will continue to his best raising taxes to screw us out of the rest.
You are aware, surely, that the governor cannot raise taxes? Only the legislature can do that.
Bud Daniels: I don’t think John Bel Edwards is able to screw us out of anything. If you haven’t noticed, our Legislature is majority Republican and in many instances they have vote to continue Jindal’s agenda. You need to give them your earful!
Edith maybe you should read my message again. I said he would do his best to try and screw us out of the rest. I’m aware the “republican ” majority legislature does what they do, even those who pretend to be republican and follow JBE’s lead.
I always enjoy reading your articles even those I do not agree with. I like the fact that you are a watchdog for the people, especially since the press does a terrible job of reporting the truth. Today, we’re not on the same page. You state that low income families can’t afford charter schools. Here in St Mary parish that is not the case. The teachers are all public school teachers, parents sign agreements to help at the school, and all income levels are welcome. It is in fact the best of both private and public and it works.
Then you go into a rant of calling anyone who likes the tax cut a lot of different names so can we assume that since republicans are pushing the bill that if you disagree that it will be good for the middle class you associate with democrats and you are a member of the KKK party, gropers, murderers(ie Ted Kennedy), and war mongers(LBJ)? You ask if we are prepared to see the deficit increase $1.4 trillion? Tax cuts have historically kick started the economy. How will TOPS a state program be affected by a federal tax cut, is this just a way to blame the Feds/Republicans for our mismanagement of the program?
The teacher and nursery owner you referenced are the true embodiment of the American/Christian spirit. Whether they have a tax credit or not, these good people will continue to do the right thing. My wife and two sons are teachers/coaches and I understand what you are saying about true heroes. Yet you rail against the House version and the evil republicans but you do not praise the republicans that want to double the tax deduct in the senate version. We should be writing our Congressmen to make sure they make the bill a good bill. And we might as well stop talking about Jindal, we allowed him to do what he did by not holding our reps accountable.
YOU ASKED:
“How will TOPS a state program be affected by a federal tax cut, is this just a way to blame the Feds/Republicans for our mismanagement of the program?”
ALREADY ANSWERED IN THE POST:
“Those of you with college kids presently on tuition exemptions like TOPS might want to get ready; your son or daughter is going to have to declare those benefits as taxable income.”
Gropers? Isn’t it Trump who bragged about going backstage at the Miss USA Pageant to “inspect” the girls? “I can do that because I own the pageant,” he told Howard Stern. Not at all clear about your reference to the KKK. You suggest stop talking about Jindal but you invoke Ted Kennedy and LBJ?
Yes, TOPS is a state program but beneficiaries of TOPS will have to declare the tuition waivers as taxable income; that’s how it affects a state program.
Sidwit, you are more consistent in defending the Republican Party and its agenda than Mr. Aswell is in criticizing Republicans. At least he has openly criticized Democrats on his blog, including John Bel Edwards. I have yet to see you admit to a Republican doing anything wrong.
I did not vote for Bobby Jindal’s second term, it was obvious he was a self promoter who could care less about the state. I cannot stand the ruling elite in Washington both repugs and dims, and I do not care for Trump personally but because of the organized resistance by the Washington elite ruling class against his agenda, I support him. I guess the hypocrisy in the press bothers me more than anything that’s why I bring up Teddy, et al. Mr. Aswell is doing the job the press used to do, he’s a watchdog and a good one. Occasionally I disagree when he goes on an epic rant with a shotgun. But guess what, I still respect him and support him even though we may disagree. Taxing TOPS benefits looks a lot like Bel Edwards taxing girl scout cookies. Write your Congressmen and Senators, I am.
Sidwit:
I appreciate your comments on my blog because they are usually deliberate and well thought out and are absent of rhetoric and emotion. It always makes for more interesting dialog when that is the case.
But (there’s always a “but,” isn’t there?) had you caught the Jim Engster Show this morning, you would have heard my response to a listener who took the Republicans to task because they continue to support Trump and Roy Moore and to disregard their accusers while condemning Al Franken.
My response was that it generally depends upon whose ox is being gored and that reaction is invariably split along party lines. I gave the example of Bill Clinton and how the Democrats united to acquit him in his impeachment trial even though he obviously attempted to obstruct justice during the Monica Lewinski investigation (obstruction of justice being the actual reason for the impeachment proceedings) and now the Republicans are returning the favor.
I said that as my way of condemning the prevailing practice of putting party over doing the right thing for the country. It is a practice I find deplorable and I really believe you probably share that sentiment.
As long as this country continues to be divided along party lines rather than choosing the correct path for the people, it will continue to be more and more difficult to reach important compromises. As the comic once said, “If pro is the opposite of con, what is the opposite of progress?”
So, what I am really trying to say is that the sorry state of affairs in which we now find ourselves is not the fault of Republicans or Democrats, per se. It’s the fault of those elected officials who refuse to think outside the constraints of those party labels.
Ditto!