With the first day of the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature fast approaching, the rumor mill is already churning with regard to what may or may not happen.
Allegedly a delegate somewhere else in the state might have let out some information on social media that may have contributed to these rumors. Since I am among many who have been permanently booted off of Facebook for exposing facts deemed “against community standards” by the Facebook powers-that-be, I did not see said delegate’s post(s) if that is where it was posted. While I will not speak for that delegate, in this column I will share a little insight from my perspective and respond to the dozens of phone calls and emails I have received regarding this in the hopes that some fear and anxiety will be subdued.
One rumor circulating is that the Republican super-majority in our state congress is “coming after public school teachers.” I am not exactly certain where this rumor stems from but it may have something to do with talking points fostered by the teacher’s union leadership to generate opposition to anything not related to the status quo that our State congress might do to enhance education in the Mountain State.
With regard to this rumor, I can assure you of this one thing. Republicans are not coming after, or in any way going to wage war against our public school educators. On the contrary, we are thankful for our teachers and recognize that many of our teachers are absolutely in the career field not to serve their union bosses, but instead, to serve our students first and foremost. To this end you may see the legislature move in a direction designed to set the conditions whereby our teachers could have more, not less, freedom in their classrooms to educate the way they know they should be educating them; at least this is what I and many like me desire to see.
There was a time in America, prior to the creation of the Department of Education in the 1970s, that we actually led the world in mathematics and sciences. We were even setting human beings upon the moon and safely returning them to Earth. Since the inception of the federal Department of Education and each state’s subsequent addiction to, and dependency upon federal dollars to advance its cookie-cutter approach to education, we continue patting ourselves on backs for the exceptionally high graduation rates while seemingly ignoring the decades-long downhill slide of academic standards and declining test scores, among other things.
At this point many may be feeling “attacked” but please don’t shoot the messenger because I am merely the voice of thousands across our district who echo this sentiment. In the perceptions of many, history and civics have taken a back seat to football and a subtle (and oftentimes not so subtle) encroachment of critical race theory and social justice emersion. Not intentionally trying to hit a nerve, instead I am just keeping it real and sharing the observations of thousands. We must move to change these perceptions, right or wrong, of our public education system.
Rest assured that it is not the goal of the 85th Legislature to “attack teachers.” However, it is the goal of the majority party to advance positive student-first focused education reform. While some will swallow union boss talking points hook, line, and sinker, others will watch and listen patiently with an open mind and think not on the status quo of the past several decades, but rather, be open to any positive change that will come from a different approach. I challenge my fellow educators (yes I am an educator), as well as the taxpayers, to think critically and objectively on the language of any legislation; specifically 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th order effects of that legislation.
I urge everyone who reads this to ask these questions: will continuing with the current trend of churning out an increasing number of unprepared graduates in exchange for a per capita approach to funding, help or hinder academic standards and ultimately our students? Are you okay with one or two people at the state level unilaterally making decisions for duly elected school boards at the local level? Do you support having the freedom of options, or do you like a top-down driven cookie-cutter approach to education? Would you like to have more say in what the education standards should be?
All of us should desire real student-first focused education reform and I aim to support any legislation that strives to that end. With many college professors grappling with an overwhelming number of undergraduate students who cannot effectively communicate in a grammatically correct manner, have not learned the fundamentals of mathematics, cannot tell time without a digital clock, do not understand the basics of American history, who eagerly embrace many tenants of communism, and who are taught about many world religions but are aggressively steered away from the history and teachings of Christ, at this point what do we have to lose?
To my self-described progressive friends: while most of you may not have voted for me, I do hope that you will acknowledge that the traditional way(s) of doing things in public education may have been showing some characteristics of regression and it may be time to try something new. Please do not consider this “an attack on teachers” as the media and union talking points may allege. Because of W.Va. now being a right to work state, more and more teachers realize that they no longer need to tow the union line for fear of losing their jobs, they are becoming more vocal in their desires to put students first again. I certainly concur with those teachers. So, stay tuned and please stay open-minded.
Tax Reform rumors. Like the education reform initiatives, I will not attempt to detail specifics (since I have not seen the final draft of any such legislation). However, I will reiterate that I believe that an individual’s personal earnings are theirs alone and it is borderline evil to suggest who’s earnings should be confiscated by the state and to what extent based on the personal opinions of social justice activists.
I believe in equal justice for all at the expense of none; not social justice for some at the expense of others. I will let this mindset guide me as I carefully read any legislation aimed at permitting individuals to keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets regardless of social class, gender, or ethnicity. More disposable family income equates to more money spent in local communities across the state. It equates to more jobs.
I am looking forward to seeing some positive change in this area as well; particularly since I, like many of you, are apprehensive about the onslaught of potential overreach and over-taxation about to be heaped upon us from Washington D.C. Therefore, I will support whatever type(s) of state-level relief that we can collectively muster. I will not support any income tax increases. I was happy to hear Gov. Justice announce in a radio interview back in November that he wants to talk about repealing the personal income tax. I am looking forward to seeing and signing on to legislation to this end.
Many on both sides of the isle continue to ask how we (the state) will make up the loss in revenue if we cut the PIT or any other taxes. Interestingly enough, not many politicians ever think to ask working families how they will make up their lost family revenue anytime the state decides to confiscate their personal earnings in the first place. Personally, while I and others would like to see a 100% repeal of the personal income tax in West Virginia, I will certainly support any initiative designed to let you keep more of your personal earnings.
There are numerous other GOP initiatives being discussed for the upcoming Session and I am hopeful will conserve your Constitutional Rights, foster more freedoms, reign in wasteful spending, and set the conditions for the strengthening of our sovereign State so stay tuned.
Like most of you, I must also work a full-time job to support my family so I may not have the free time to write weekly columns. Nevertheless, I will make every effort at least once per quarter, or when deemed necessary, to provide updates. If you have any issues or concerns feel free to email me at Todd.Longanacre@wvhouse.gov but be patient as we “part-time” legislators do not get a personal secretary so I will work hard to get to your calls or emails in the order in which they are received.
I wish I had a better answer than that but it is what it is. I will never again be critical of a politician who “never answered my call” or “responded to my email” as I am now fully aware of the sheer volume of incoming messages daily. I will answer most of your inquiries with the individual votes I will cast. And remember, please be open-minded and fully hear out legislation prior to jumping onto the bandwagon of union bosses, the media, lobbyists, etc. Who knows, you might find that the people telling you not to support something, may not have your children’s or grandchildren’s best interests in mind.
Godspeed!
Todd Longanacre
Delegate, 42nd District, WV House
(304) 340-3129
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