budgets

A new study shows that Oklahoma continues to have a major education funding crisis and no amount of denial by Gov. Mary Fallin's office is going to make it go away. In its study, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that per student spending has dropped in Oklahoma by 23.6 percent since 2008. This means, adjusting for inflation, the state spends $857 less per student each year. The decline is the steepest in the nation.

Funding cuts to research are nothing new in Washington — unless it's research for the Department of Defense. But just a few years ago, funding for ALS research was slashed by nearly $5 million. It's a funny thing about the awareness of ALS research now...let the trend-humping and hypocrisy begin!

It may read like satire — but unfortunately, it is not. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is calling for a special Legislative session to divert money from the state's Education Trust Fund to pay for corporate welfare. Because if corporations are people and children are just little people, than this is all the same thing. Right?

In the midst of California's continued budget woes, once again it's the mentally ill and financially troubled citizens who are getting lost in the bureaucratic shuffle.