Kamala Harris’ Hair-Raising, Tax-Raising Plan
When the American Federation of Teachers endorsed Hillary Clinton for president in July 2015, many teachers were infuriated. The union’s Bernie Sanders supporters justifiably believed they had no role in the decision, which was made a full year before the Democratic National Convention. AFT president Randi Weingarten recently admitted the union would have to overcome some “trust issues” in the wake of that early endorsement, although she took no responsibility for her role in fostering distrust among her members, laughably suggesting that “Russian bots” and the “Bernie camp” could be to blame.
To secure the union’s endorsement this time around, a candidate will be scrutinized thoroughly on policies the union holds dear, including universal healthcare, free college tuition, and killing off charter schools.
Shortly after AFT opened the door to all aspirants in mid-March, candidate Kamala Harris swaggered in with an eye-catching and indeed audacious plan. In the March 25 edition of the Washington Post, the junior senator from California declared: “The United States is facing a teacher pay crisis. Public school teachers earn 11 percent less than professionals with similar educations.” To address the situation, which Harris insists is “creating disastrous consequences,” she wants to give the average teacher a $13,500 raise with states being forced to add $1 to the pot for every $3 the feds throw in.
The extravagant plan would cost taxpayers about $315 billion over the next decade, and that does not include the state “contribution.” Harris claims the money would come from closing loopholes that one-percenters take advantage of.
Needless to say, Randi Weingarten was full of praise. She called the plan “a bold, smart, strategic and decisive proposal that will help make teaching a respected profession by paying teachers a living wage.” The plan could also be popular with voters, as surveys often show that a majority of Americans think educators CONTINUE READING: Kamala Harris’ Hair-Raising, Tax-Raising Plan – American Greatness
