Sharp difference on school funding

JS Politics Watch:

Issue of the day: Education funding
Note: Candidates were asked if they would commit to the two-thirds funding level for public schools in the state and, if so, how they would do it.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle: "Education is my top priority. That's why I restored the state's commitment to pay two-thirds of the cost of our schools in the last budget. Doing so allows schools a modest 3% increase to keep up with inflation. And because the state is paying more, it helps take the burden off property taxpayers. I'll fund two-thirds in my next budget as well."

You could not ask for a more direct answer. That's a yes.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green: "Education will always be my top spending priority and I will certainly increase funding for our schools. However, given the massive budget deficit Jim Doyle has left us with, until we get a better picture of our financial situation, I think it would be irresponsible to commit to just how big of an increase the taxpayers can afford. "

And that's a no. If Mark Green is governor, stand by for hundreds of millions of cuts in school aid, thousands of teacher and staff layoffs, program cuts -- and, despite all that, a big increase in property taxes.