lollardfish (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lollardfish) wrote2008-10-24 11:56 am
lollardfish) wrote2008-10-24 11:56 am
Dear Governor Palin
Thanks for talking about special needs and special education today. It's a big issue that needs more exposure.
But among the many points I think you got wrong, I'd like to especially draw your attention to this one:
You said:
"We've got a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18 billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark."
It turns out that Fruit fly research has led to advances in autism research.
I just felt you should know.
But among the many points I think you got wrong, I'd like to especially draw your attention to this one:
You said:
"We've got a three trillion dollar budget, and Congress spends some 18 billion dollars a year on earmarks for political pet projects. That's more than the shortfall to fully fund the IDEA. And where does a lot of that earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark."
It turns out that Fruit fly research has led to advances in autism research.
I just felt you should know.