Corbett’s Nepotism and War on Public Education

Perhaps in addition the continued coverage of the debate over teacher salaries that is constantly being purveyed on the front page of the newspapers, they might include some other interesting tidbits about the budget crusade by new Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett. For example, in his effort to push his voucher program, funds for the 144 public schools targeted by the voucher program were cut twice as much as those not targeted. According to the Education Law Center, funds towards Pennsylvania’s poorer districts are the ones taking the biggest hit. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

Further evidence to back up that statement can be found in the governor’s newly appointed head of the Department of Community and Economic Development, C. Allan Walker. Walker, who is the owner and CEO of Bradford Energy Co. and Bradford Coal, has been reported to have given $180,000 to Corbett campaigns in the last 7 years. He also has stakes in other companies, including a trucking company and a Pennsylvania oil and gas company. Is it any coincidence that this man is now in charge of a department that could impact not only PA’s environment and economy, but where he has the decision making power to impact his own industry so closely tied to his own financial success? Of course not – the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.

This is not a rant against either political party; both can be corrupt and unscrupulous. But teachers, due to their being paid by community tax dollars, make an easy scapegoat. Citizens receive their school tax bill and instantly think of poor teachers they had in their past – it is only natural. But perhaps this is an intentional smoke screen – while teachers’ salaries make for great press, traditional nepotism in government that results in high paying jobs (in some cases of up to $200,000 a year for people like Walker, which is four times the average salary of one teacher) and the ability to sway legislation and governmental decisions in their favor for some reason bore the public. The outcry over the “exorbitant” pay for public school teachers should hopefully be mirrored by disgust for known millionaires like Walker being paid with the public’s tax dollars. But it isn’t, and my guess is that it never will be.  And that’s why the rich will continue to get richer, the poor will continue to get poorer.

The purpose of the news media is to inform citizens of all of the facts, however, it is also the responsibility of all citizens to seek the facts. Do your part.