Papers Fail to Credit David Williams for Foresight
While the editorial boards of the Herald Leader and Courier-Journal were hasty to heap the blame for the budget impasse at the feet of Senate President David Williams, they have been slow to recognize his foresight on charter schools.
In January, President Williams led the charge to finally allow school choice in Kentucky, joined by House Republicans but derailed by Senator Kerr. Williams and other supporters contended that school choice legislation was necessary to qualify Kentucky for "Race to the Top" funding.
Unfortunately, the effort was defeated, Kentucky's application was rejected and Williams was proven right.
Now, not only has the Education Commissioner come around, so also, apparently, Governor Beshear:
Gov. Steve Beshear said Tuesday he wants to explore the possibility of adding a proposal to allow charter schools in Kentucky on the agenda of a special legislative session to craft a state budget.
Last week's editorial smugly asked whether 'Williams just likes train wrecks.' Perhaps they need to get it through their heads that he's standing up for the changes -- school choice, sustainable levels of spending, reduced debt -- that Kentucky needs to make.
