‘No' on Prop 204 not 'no' on schools

In response to Richard Badone’s letter on Oct. 19 “Arizonans care about children and education,” the title of his letter is about the only thing he got right.

I’m a father and a grandfather and I care very much about education. The special interest groups that authored this proposition included much more than education with little or no fiscal accountability and a total disregard for the current or future economic conditions in the state.

The authors should be ashamed to bring this proposition to the voters of Arizona when our education system (K-12) currently receives 50 percent (yes, I said 50 percent) of the state’s budget. Arizona’s education system is broken but the answer is not to throw more money at it. Perhaps if more of the budget was spent on teachers and the kids with less on administration, we might see an improvement.

Badone didn’t really state any reason for support of Prop 204 but rather uses our children to hang a guilt trip on anyone in opposition. Just in case that doesn’t work, he resorts to name calling and off-subject ranting. I think the parents and voters are smart enough to see these offensive actions for what they are; a desperate attempt to pass a bad proposition.

Could it be that his support for Prop 204 comes from the fact that his home address is the same as “Toni” Badone, the superintendent of Yuma Union High School District?

In closing, I would like to say that passage of Prop 204 would have a negative effect on Arizona’s economic recovery. Arizona’s sales tax would remain the second highest in the country. Arizona must be competitive with other states in order  to attract businesses and jobs which will in turn speed up our economic recovery. This 1 percent sales tax was intended to expire next year and certainly should be allowed to do just that. I ask all Arizonans to look at the facts and vote “No” on Prop 204.

Gary Knight
Yuma