So I’ve lived in Loudoun County for six years, but it was only recently that I began to really take notice of local/county politics. My own economic circumstances were partly to blame. If I am taking a closer look at my own budget and making cuts where I can, is my government doing the same thing? I invite fellow Loudoun County residents to share and provide your input.

The first thing I really noticed was an announcement that the Superintendent was proposing a cut in its budget. Then come all of the scare e-mails from PTAs and other parent organizations to “ensure that every parent was aware of the spending cuts that may go into effect in 2010 if Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hatrick’s proposed budget is NOT passed.” This insults the intelligence of all parents: Budget cuts are bad, If you want to cut the school budget, then you hate children! You child hater! Going with this logic, am I a bad parent for reducing my own budget in certain areas to provide the best for my family with the means that we have? Why can’t the county use this logic?!!!   Puhhleease!

It was nice that the school board decided to have public meetings regarding these cuts. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in the way of discussing the proposed cuts on their own merit (shocker!).  What’s worse, Dr. Superintendent Hatrick informed us that it wasn’t his intention to even contemplate cuts in the school budget; the school board was acting on the Loudoun County Government’s direction study the effects of school budget cuts.   Kirby Bowers, Loudoun County Administrator–“the highest level management office of the Loudoun County government”, said about a year ago that the issue is not how much Loudoun County should spend, it’s how much takes Loudoun County residents were willing to pay.  Can’t believe he actually said this in public!

My conclusions:

• Neither Dr. Superintendent Hatrick nor the Board intend to look at potential savings in the school budget (while Loudoun County residents have to look at their own budgets)
• Dr. Superintendent Hatrick does not want the blame for looking at cuts or even enacting them since he was instructed to do so by Loudoun County Government.   Dr. Superintendent Hatrick is not a child-hater!
• Mr. Bowers and Loudoun County Government is more than willing to tax Loudoun County residents into oblivion so long as the residents are willing.

Add to this recent articles in the Washington Post that reported on DC area Superintendents travel habits, which of course include Dr. Superintendent Hatrick’s professional travel accross the country and overseas.  I wonder which pot of money is funding those trips. Not only that, but will Loudoun County disclose it? Should they?

What are your thoughts?

Following the US House of Representatives unanimous motion to only allow for votes after the text of the legislation has been available for at least 48 hours, the House followed by the Senate approved a $787B and 1073 page bill that was made available 11pm the previous evening.

Check out this disturbing video where the majority leader of the House declares that the 48 hours previously committed to by the entire House of Representatives is not binding and this bill is to be considered “read” at the time of the vote.

Keep in mind that the average reading rate is 2 minutes per page.  This would mean that the bill may be read from start to finish if you sit and read for 35.8 hours straight (no bathroom breaks…eewww!).

President Obama now has perfect opportunity to score a few points with those on the dark other side of the aisle.  Will he abide by his own statements and campaign promises that wooed so many to vote for him and allow time for Americans and elected officials to read this important bill?

“Americans have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent, but that information has been hidden from public view for too long.”

For goodness sake, if the bill is so great then it will stand on its own and he could sign the darn thing on Tuesday.  We shall see.