The Governor Race in Idaho

The Problem with Spending More Money on Education:
The failure of the “Allred Reasoning”


During the last four years under Governor Otter, Superintendent Tom Luna, and the Republican legislature student achievement has improved, test scores are on the rise, and the number of schools reaching AYP have more than doubled. Getting better results with less money

Gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred wants more funding for education without identifying any specific area where the money should go; neither has Allred identified any specific problem that needs to be addressed. Judging by Allred’s statements, the real problem is the budget was reduced. How can an efficient, low cost education system be a problem?

Allred’s vagueness on funding sources is even more troubling. He claims that cuts to education were not necessary; yet, he gives only one indication where the money will come from – the repeal of sales tax exemptions that could raise an additional $1.7 billion or a 73 percent increase in state taxes. How can Allred say this is not an increase in taxes?

If Allred has a solution that will increase funding to education without raising taxes, I want to hear what it is and so would every other Idahoan. I hope he is right. I would love to be wrong. If, however, Allred can’t explain his plan to restore education funding without raising taxes, he should be viewed as a political pretender instead of the smartest man in Idaho.

We have a right to know a few details of his plan. As voters, we have the right to judge his plan before he gets elected. Personally, I don’t want to take on faith the details of a nonexistent plan.

I have done the math. I don’t believe a short term solution to restore funding exists without raising taxes. Long term education funding can be increased without raising taxes by increasing the size of the private sector of the economy. This is exactly what Governor Otter is trying to do.