"Who's REALLY Heartless?"

Rev. Kharma's co-blogger, 'The Deacon,' has written an article today that I am eager to pass along.

In South Carolina, Governor Mark Sanford has refused to ask for bailout money from the federal government, which has brought him tons of criticism, particularly from the education lobby in the state, which claims the Governor is 'heartless' due to the fact that refusing the money will cost teachers jobs, in their view.

But who is really being 'heartless' here?

Here is an excerpt from the article:

There is much politics within the school system as well as surrounding it. What many don’t know or don’t understand is that many teachers coming out of college have to go outside SC to get a job. There are not enough the slots for them available here.

Why is it that many new teachers must go out of state to get a job? Why is it that we must further cut jobs? One reason is the TERI program. The “Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive” program is what is both filling slots new teachers could have, and also eating into the state budget. This is a problem for new teachers, and the state budget, by allowing a teacher to continue to draw retirement and to earn teacher salary and leave, “at the rate consistent with their years of service”, on top of that. So rather than pay a new teacher a first year salary, also providing a job, you close up the job market and over pay a teacher for doing the same job. “The TERI program is designed for employees who wish to access their retirement contributions from the SC Retirement System, but desire to continue employment with the agency and retain the same position they held prior to entering the program.” Wow, Holy Double Dipper Batman! To boot, depending on which version of TERI, they can have contracts for specific terms so they are paid for the term of the contract rather than working as the need exists. What a deal!

Thus, by merely doing away with the TERI program, schools districts could hire teachers with no problem, even without federal stimulus money.

The Deacon correctly vindicates Governor Sanford while naming the ones who are actually responsible for the state's budgetary woes.

But this story is not exclusive to South Carolina. The same scenario is being played out in numerous states across the country. It is time to stop and ask, 'Who is really responsible for the mess other than the easily-vilified fall guys the liberals and media identify?

Follow the money trail, and usually you will find out.

Be sure to read the entire article here.