| To the editor:
In 2006, I had my first and only foray into a political race. I ran for the Nixa School Board against two incumbents and lost. In hindsight, Im glad I lost. Had I won, I wouldve had to join the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA), an organization that has taken positions that are fundamentally opposed to my beliefs. For example, MSBA consistently fights to keep our taxes high.
During the last legislative session, MSBA was an effective advocate for defeating House Bill 253 a bill that would have resulted in the first income tax cut for Missourians in decades. Now, MSBA is gearing up to fight tax cuts in the next legislative session. In their own words, The battle continues.
To educate their members, MSBA is hosting 15 anti-tax cut meetings in various regions of the state. I asked Brent Ghan, MSBAs chief communications officer, if they invited anyone in support of tax cuts. They had not. The organization is not interested in a debate. Their position is set: They will not support tax cuts that reduce state revenue.
MSBAs position on tax cuts essentially means they will only support tax bills that maintain or grow the size of government.
Yes, I am glad I never became a member of MSBA. Unfortunately, my tax dollars still flow to the MSBA through my local school districts membership dues. It is frustrating that our tax dollars go to the MSBA to fund their efforts to keep our taxes high.
James V. Shuls, Ph.D., education policy analyst, Show-Me Institute, St Louis, MO
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