DISCUSSION: WHAT IS KIRK SCHURING UP TO ON HIS PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?

On December 4, 2007 state Senator Kirk Schuring introduced his bill to amend the Ohio Constitution on the issue of school funding. So Schuring, who has been in the Legislature for 14 years, waits until he is running Congress to give the appearance of doing something on this festering problem.

On substance alone, the major effect of Schuring’s amendment would be to stabilize funding at 1970s levels.

But the bill was DOA. Governor Ted Strickland was not about to allow the man (John Boccieri - Schuring’s opponent) he describes as “being like a brother” be upstaged by Schuring.

The STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT (The Report) believes that proposal was a political stunt by the senator who had to know his gambit had no chance from the get-go. Stark County school districts struggle with financing and Schuring seizes on their desperation for a politically motivated publicity gain.

When Schuring introduced his bill, he heralded Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut (a Democrat) as supporting his amendment.

Well, Fingerhut must have had a chat with Schuring and told him to quit using his name as a supporter. Have you heard Schuring using the Fingerhut name lately?

The question: Is Schuring lying low for now only to spring into action in September? Or, is The Report right? Schuring proposal was never a serious effort to solve the public school funding crises.