TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE STATE FINANCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FROM WHAT SOURCES?
The public school system is the backbone of the country. It produces the majority of our leaders. If we allow the education in our school system to become completely indaequate then we cannot expect our young people to compete and lead so we can only go backwards. I believe that the first and foremost issue before any state legislature is to finance a superior school system. The public school system in Missouri should receive its financing completely and totally before any other state budgets are considered. The budget cannot and should not remain constant, as increases are needed to improve any worthwhile program.
SHOULD THE STATE FINANCE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS? IF SO TO WHAT EXTENT?
I do not believe that the state should finance the direct education of youths attending parochial school. The state should assist the parochial school system with such things as transportation which will aid and relieve some of the financial pressure now being felt by the system.
TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD THE STATE SHARE REVENUES WITH THE CITY?
In order for the cities to continue to exist and grow in stature revenue sharing will and must become a reality. The exodus of middle class residents to the suburbs has left the cities with numerous people with incomes far below those needed to yield adequate taxes to support the programs and finances that will enable the cities to develop and return to and enjoy the status that should belong to our larger cities. The extent to which the state should share revenue with the cities should be determined by the number of people in certain low income categories and the amount of revenue needed to finance the city’s budget. I believe revenue sharing is needed by the city and will support the efforts of the legislature to make it a reality.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE CITY—COUNTY CULTURAL DISTRICT?
Yes.
WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO IMPROVE HOUSING IN THE CITY?
The initiation of Operation Breakthrough in the city by the Federal Government should be an inspiration to the state to begin to take a more active role in housing in Missouri. The state should begin to initiate programs that will bring new housing and ‘ allow persons on fixed incomes and those in the lowincome categories to purchase homes anywhere in the community. Open housing laws are still needed but they are not the entire answer. The answer lies somewhere in the minds of those of us who are aware that even with open housing the majority of low-income people will never be able to take advantage of the situation until they can gain adequate employment that will allow them to become home owners, or when new housing is built that can be purchased by them or until they received some assistance from Federal and state governments with such programs as the 235 program.
Originally published in The Paper, August 1970.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1970_08.pdf, printed page(s) 4.
