Require specificity on McCleary plans

As we head into the general election and the 2015 legislative session, there is no bigger issue on the table than the McCleary decision. Voters deserve to hear concrete answers from our elected officials and candidates about their solutions for funding education. To that end, we need some new rules when it comes to discussing McCleary.

When asked how you would fund education, if you say the words “tax loophole,” please list the specific loopholes you will close. Here’s a link to the Joint Legislative Audit &Review Committee: www.leg.wa.gov/JLARC/Pages/default.aspx

If your answer includes the phrase “fund education within existing revenues,” please list the current programs you will cut to achieve the minimum of $3.5 billion that we need. Here’s the budget link: www.ofm.wa.gov/budget/legbudgets/1315biennial.asp

If you say fund education first and talk about new revenue later, see the prior paragraph. In addition, please list the new revenue you would be in favor of and the budget items you would buy back with the new revenue.

And if you say “fund it through new revenue,” you need to list the new taxes that you are going to pass. Please remember that 64 percent of voters state-wide and 67 percent of Snohomish County voters turned down an income tax in 2010.

This is not a year for consultant crafted sound bites. Our kids deserve better.

Guy Palumbo

Snohomish