Governor's preschool proposal rejected by House budget panel

HELENA — A GOP-led budget panel on Tuesday evening rejected Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock's $37 million proposal for public preschool programs in Montana.

The House Appropriations Committee voted down the plan 12-8 along party lines.

Under the program known as Early Edge, grants would be available to public school districts -$30,000 for every 10 students- to create or expand preschool programs in the next two years. If districts choose to seek grant money, they could create their own preschool program, partner with an existing one or combine the two.

The plan was included in House Bill 2, the main budget measure.

Rep. Roy Hollandsworth said the vote was not about the preschool program but about keeping education spending increases low.

"There are some other places where a little bit of money would go a long way," the Republican from Brady said.

Bullock said in a statement after the vote investment in early learners is clear and that it's good for families, communities and the economy.

"The fact that the Republicans in control of the House Appropriations Committee refuse to invest in our children's future, and our state's future, is short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible."

Montana is one of only six states without any state investment in preschool programs.

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It's well known that educated voters vote Democratic.

That is very true, Dave.

And if you look at the current thread entitled "miles city", with its many posts rife with misspellings and poor grammar, you can be sure most of those posters vote Republican.

So where are you going to find classrooms for these 3 and 4 year olds in our already over crowded public schools and where will you find qualified teachers. How are you going to pay for these teachers once the grants are no longer available as we know grants don't last forever.

Spending more on Pre-School and giving these youngsters a jump start has proven to lead to success in school. The more success ensures the less likeliness they will end in the prison system. The cost for incarceration is much higher than the cost of education.
Why is that politicians who claim to be smart in business can never understand the real value is investing in the citizens

By the way, Eric Moore' wife had run a private pre-school when I lived in Miles City. Does she stlll run one? Just asking...

I will be thankful to this very day that when we were growing up we had adults who cared far more about education than how much money they would have in their bank accounts by doing nothing. Building schools and and educating meant getting jobs and contributing...paying it forward all the way.

I believe the issue for the GOP,jah, is money. Period. Don't spend money now that will pay off 10-fold in the future.