Better than Chris Wallace w/Biden and Graham: Berkowitz w/Sen. Cullerton on Taxes, School Choice and Impeachment, Cable and Streaming
Jeff Berkowitz: Jack Roeser--from Champion News, which was the Family Tax Payer Network. He points out what I’ve just said: The average spending on public schools (K-12), per kid, per year, is about ten thousand dollars, across the state of Illinois. Take a classroom of twenty five kids—that means we’ve got available there, for those twenty five kids, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to educate them for one year...[Roeser's] point is—do you need to increase education spending? Because you’ve got a hundred thousand to pay the teacher. You’ve got a hundred and fifty thousand for other stuff. And so Jack’s saying, to you, John Cullerton, why do you need more money?
Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago): And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--
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Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago) . The show with Senator Cullerton airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and also tonight in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
Turn on, tune in and watch Senator Cullerton interviewed by show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz about the majority of Democrats, with help from some Republicans, trying to raise the state income tax in January, 2009; School choice, school vouchers; impeachment of the Governor; the Governor's choices regarding how to handle the state budget; Kjellander, Pat Brady and Senator Bill Brady and much, much more on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago). Go here for partial transcripts of tonight's show, as well as for a more detailed list of topics discussed on tonight's show and for more about our guest.
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You may also watch the show, taped on June 8, 2008, with Senator Cullerton(D-Chicago)here or on the Illinois Channel archive site.
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This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features Scott Harper (D-Lockport), Democratic candidate in the 13th Cong. Dist., taking on ten-year Republican incumbent Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale).
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A partial transcript of tonight's show is included, below:
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Is the concept of school choice politicized?
Jeff Berkowitz: How about accountability in terms of [school] choice? Why not let people choose the schools they send their kids to? If they’re happy with the public schools, fine. If they’re not, take the ten thousand dollars—that’s what we spend on average, per kid, per year, on average across the state of Illinois—take that 10k average—if it’s fourteen thousand somewhere, take fourteen thousand, if it’s eight thousand somewhere, take eight thousand, total amount of money being spent, state, federal, local—and bring it to the school of their choice.
Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago): The idea of choice, unfortunately, has become so politicized; it makes it more difficult for Democrats to embrace that concept-
Jeff Berkowitz: The teachers’ unions don’t like it. If you want to stand up to the teachers’ unions, stand up to them. Your constituents, I assure you, would like choice. You know that.
Senator John Cullerton: Yeah.
Jeff Berkowitz: I know that. Everybody watching—is there anybody watching this show out there, any of you parents-- you don’t want to have choice? You would rather be locked into one school? Of course not, right?
Is the concept of “School Choice,” like Obama’s slogan of “Change,” vague and ambiguous?
Senator John Cullerton: Well, you know, “choice” is one word-- like the word “change” and--
Jeff Berkowitz: No, no. “Choice” is very defined, unlike the word “change.” “Choice” means you take the money and you go to the school of your choice. Okay? That’s what “choice” means. Tell me how that’s like “change.”
Senator John Cullerton: Because there’s nuances to it. And all I’m saying is, the word “choice,”—I’m trying to give you a political answer, before we talk about public policy—from a Democratic point of view, we’re the dominant party in this state—it means something. Okay? And it’s been politicized. And, it is difficult for a Democrat to vote for something that has that label. Now, at the same time, if we can ease into achieving the same goal of competition by emphasizing things like charter schools-
Are charter schools more politically correct than school vouchers-school choice?
Jeff Berkowitz: Charter schools.
Senator John Cullerton: Which we have, and I personally have-
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the cap? The cap that the Legislature has set on the number of charter schools in Chicago.
Senator John Cullerton: Over the objections of both major teachers’ unions in Illinois, we have raised the cap and shifted some of that-
Jeff Berkowitz: When was that done?
Senator John Cullerton: It was done in this General Assembly.
Jeff Berkowitz: What has it been raised to?
Using “campuses,” to avoid Charter school caps
Senator John Cullerton: I can’t remember the details. I do know that there’s been concern among the teachers’ unions that we had a cap on charter schools, but they were just opening up campuses. And they felt that was an abuse of that [the cap]. We didn’t change that.
Jeff Berkowitz: So they can still do that.
Senator John Cullerton: They can still do that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is it still 30? I thought it was 30 in Chicago, 30 downstate, and 30 in the suburbs.
Senator John Cullerton: If that’s the case, we were able to pass a law—not all the 30 downstate were being used—so we passed a law that allowed them to divert those. So, my point is, when you say the word “choice,” it raises a lot of antagonism among the Democrats. If you want to accomplish the goal of competition, and you use those terms, you’re in a better way to try to ease into that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Take this. Jack Roeser—you know the name Jack Roeser?
Senator John Cullerton: I know Jack Roeser.
Jack Roeser asks-- where does school money go? To the teachers’ pensions, suggests Senator Cullerton
Jeff Berkowitz: Jack Roeser--from Champion News, which was the Family Tax Payer Network. He points out what I’ve just said: The average spending, per kid, per year, is about ten thousand dollars, across the state of Illinois. Take a classroom of twenty five kids—that means we’ve got available there, for those twenty five kids, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to educate them for one year. Now--even if you pay a teacher a hundred thousand dollars, which Jack claims we often do, even if people deny that—that leaves you a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What do you do with that? This is before we raise money. His point is—do you need to increase education spending? Because you’ve got a hundred thousand dollars to pay the teacher. You’ve got a hundred and fifty thousand for other stuff. And so Jack’s saying, to you, John Cullerton, why do you need more money?
Senator John Cullerton: And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--
Jeff Berkowitz: Sure. That comes out of the hundred and fifty thousand.
Senator John Cullerton: It doesn’t come down to per pupil, having two hundred and fifty thousand per pupil.
Jeff Berkowitz: No, it’s two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a classroom. A hundred thousand for the teacher, to teach regular stuff, a hundred and fifty thousand for [special instruction for] reading, for disabilities, for learning disabilities, for educational disabilities, for emotional disabilities. Isn’t that enough?
Senator John Cullerton: It sure would seem like it, doesn’t it?
Jeff Berkowitz: So where’s it going?
Senator John Cullerton: Maybe the pensions for the teachers, I don’t know.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. Let’s go back. We really didn’t finish with the [state] budget.
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); Tonight's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*************************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols
Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago): And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--
**************************************
Tonight's City of Chicago and City of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," features Senator John Cullerton(D-Chicago) . The show with Senator Cullerton airs throughout the City of Chicago tonight at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21 (CANTV) and also tonight in Aurora and surrounding areas at 7:30 pm on ACTV, Cable Ch. 10. The Aurora station, Aurora Community Television, Comcast Cable Ch. 10, reaches all of Aurora, Bristol, Big Rock and parts of Oswego, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Montgomery.
Turn on, tune in and watch Senator Cullerton interviewed by show host and executive legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz about the majority of Democrats, with help from some Republicans, trying to raise the state income tax in January, 2009; School choice, school vouchers; impeachment of the Governor; the Governor's choices regarding how to handle the state budget; Kjellander, Pat Brady and Senator Bill Brady and much, much more on tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago). Go here for partial transcripts of tonight's show, as well as for a more detailed list of topics discussed on tonight's show and for more about our guest.
*************************
You may also watch the show, taped on June 8, 2008, with Senator Cullerton(D-Chicago)here or on the Illinois Channel archive site.
********************************************
This week's Chicago Metro suburban edition of "Public Affairs," features Scott Harper (D-Lockport), Democratic candidate in the 13th Cong. Dist., taking on ten-year Republican incumbent Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale).
*****************************************
A partial transcript of tonight's show is included, below:
***************************************
Is the concept of school choice politicized?
Jeff Berkowitz: How about accountability in terms of [school] choice? Why not let people choose the schools they send their kids to? If they’re happy with the public schools, fine. If they’re not, take the ten thousand dollars—that’s what we spend on average, per kid, per year, on average across the state of Illinois—take that 10k average—if it’s fourteen thousand somewhere, take fourteen thousand, if it’s eight thousand somewhere, take eight thousand, total amount of money being spent, state, federal, local—and bring it to the school of their choice.
Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago): The idea of choice, unfortunately, has become so politicized; it makes it more difficult for Democrats to embrace that concept-
Jeff Berkowitz: The teachers’ unions don’t like it. If you want to stand up to the teachers’ unions, stand up to them. Your constituents, I assure you, would like choice. You know that.
Senator John Cullerton: Yeah.
Jeff Berkowitz: I know that. Everybody watching—is there anybody watching this show out there, any of you parents-- you don’t want to have choice? You would rather be locked into one school? Of course not, right?
Is the concept of “School Choice,” like Obama’s slogan of “Change,” vague and ambiguous?
Senator John Cullerton: Well, you know, “choice” is one word-- like the word “change” and--
Jeff Berkowitz: No, no. “Choice” is very defined, unlike the word “change.” “Choice” means you take the money and you go to the school of your choice. Okay? That’s what “choice” means. Tell me how that’s like “change.”
Senator John Cullerton: Because there’s nuances to it. And all I’m saying is, the word “choice,”—I’m trying to give you a political answer, before we talk about public policy—from a Democratic point of view, we’re the dominant party in this state—it means something. Okay? And it’s been politicized. And, it is difficult for a Democrat to vote for something that has that label. Now, at the same time, if we can ease into achieving the same goal of competition by emphasizing things like charter schools-
Are charter schools more politically correct than school vouchers-school choice?
Jeff Berkowitz: Charter schools.
Senator John Cullerton: Which we have, and I personally have-
Jeff Berkowitz: What’s the cap? The cap that the Legislature has set on the number of charter schools in Chicago.
Senator John Cullerton: Over the objections of both major teachers’ unions in Illinois, we have raised the cap and shifted some of that-
Jeff Berkowitz: When was that done?
Senator John Cullerton: It was done in this General Assembly.
Jeff Berkowitz: What has it been raised to?
Using “campuses,” to avoid Charter school caps
Senator John Cullerton: I can’t remember the details. I do know that there’s been concern among the teachers’ unions that we had a cap on charter schools, but they were just opening up campuses. And they felt that was an abuse of that [the cap]. We didn’t change that.
Jeff Berkowitz: So they can still do that.
Senator John Cullerton: They can still do that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Is it still 30? I thought it was 30 in Chicago, 30 downstate, and 30 in the suburbs.
Senator John Cullerton: If that’s the case, we were able to pass a law—not all the 30 downstate were being used—so we passed a law that allowed them to divert those. So, my point is, when you say the word “choice,” it raises a lot of antagonism among the Democrats. If you want to accomplish the goal of competition, and you use those terms, you’re in a better way to try to ease into that.
Jeff Berkowitz: Take this. Jack Roeser—you know the name Jack Roeser?
Senator John Cullerton: I know Jack Roeser.
Jack Roeser asks-- where does school money go? To the teachers’ pensions, suggests Senator Cullerton
Jeff Berkowitz: Jack Roeser--from Champion News, which was the Family Tax Payer Network. He points out what I’ve just said: The average spending, per kid, per year, is about ten thousand dollars, across the state of Illinois. Take a classroom of twenty five kids—that means we’ve got available there, for those twenty five kids, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to educate them for one year. Now--even if you pay a teacher a hundred thousand dollars, which Jack claims we often do, even if people deny that—that leaves you a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What do you do with that? This is before we raise money. His point is—do you need to increase education spending? Because you’ve got a hundred thousand dollars to pay the teacher. You’ve got a hundred and fifty thousand for other stuff. And so Jack’s saying, to you, John Cullerton, why do you need more money?
Senator John Cullerton: And you know what the problem is, you’ve got to look at the entire obligations of a school district. You know, you have kids who are disabled, you have kids who are--
Jeff Berkowitz: Sure. That comes out of the hundred and fifty thousand.
Senator John Cullerton: It doesn’t come down to per pupil, having two hundred and fifty thousand per pupil.
Jeff Berkowitz: No, it’s two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a classroom. A hundred thousand for the teacher, to teach regular stuff, a hundred and fifty thousand for [special instruction for] reading, for disabilities, for learning disabilities, for educational disabilities, for emotional disabilities. Isn’t that enough?
Senator John Cullerton: It sure would seem like it, doesn’t it?
Jeff Berkowitz: So where’s it going?
Senator John Cullerton: Maybe the pensions for the teachers, I don’t know.
Jeff Berkowitz: Okay. Let’s go back. We really didn’t finish with the [state] budget.
************************************
Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama, McCain, Giuliani and Cox, last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago); Tonight's city of Chicago and city of Aurora edition of "Public Affairs," featuring State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), our prior shows with Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago), State Rep. Candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), 6th CD Democratic candidate, Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (Ret.), State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and shows with many other pols at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
*************************************************************
Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs YouTube page include last Monday night's show in Chicago and Aurora with Sen. Kwame Raoul(D-Chicago), tonight's show in Chicago and Aurora with Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago)- watch here; our prior shows with State Rep. candidate Joan Solms (R-Aurora), Comm. Forrest Claypool (D-Chicago) on the Obama Presidential campaign and shows with many other pols
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