Education, Politics

No Taxation Without Representation

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“When courts claim that they have power to make legislatures spend more to vindicate a constitutional right to basic education, they tamper with a basic tenet of our democracy — no taxation without representation,” he wrote. “Voters are entitled to hold political officials accountable for the taxes they levy, the money they spend, and the education they produce.”

Star~Ledger

Paul Mulshine is an absolute must-read. He is a bit more direct than I am on the issue of the New Jersey Supreme Court, but the sentiment is the same: stop legislating from the bench!

“Dear Members of an Equal, not Superior, Coordinate Branch of Government:
“I have reviewed my copy of the state constitution and seem to have missed the section which permits you to dictate spending on anything. Should you, in the future, see fit to opine on the subject, I will happily consider your views, as I do those of every other constituent. However, as, in my view, you lack the authority to compel the state to spend a single nickel, should you purport to order us to do so, I will politely but firmly decline.”

The natives are so restless here that good staunch conservatives are missing the issue and latching out for any cost savings. I can’t fault them for that, yet the problem is not the benefit package of the teachers. The problem is that there is too much money being spent on public education. That the Abbott districts are mandated so much of the pie is ludicrous.

For those who criticized last year’s call for a Constitutional Convention, consider that we could be a year into that process now. The three words thorough and efficient cannot mean that the state goes bankrupt providing public education. Get those words out of the document and let’s move on. Justice Proitz and the rest of her court have so over-extended their reach that all should see the slam dunk to be had in challenging this. Hell, we here at eCache called for just that more than a year ago.

Hallelujah, indeed!

Hat tip to NJ Conservative for highlighting Mulshine’s column.

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