Can you sue yourself? The AG’s office says no.
From tonight’s Argus Leader.com, Assistant AG Jeff Hallem has the best argument against taxpayers suing taxpayers for more tax money that I’ve heard to date.
Lawyers for the state said school districts are creatures of the Legislature and don’t have legal standing to sue.
“How can the state sue itself? That’s really what the issue is,’’ Jeff Hallem of Attorney General Larry Long’s staff told Wilbur. “This is all about money. This is about money from the state treasury.”
Rory King, arguing the plaintiffs’ side with Parsons, said the issue in the main lawsuit is an interpretation of the constitution itself and what it requires the Legislature to do with regard to funding schools.
“School districts are creatures of the Legislature and don’t have legal standing to sue.”
What more needs to be said?
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Comments
So do I! Get back to the basics of educating students. Forget pre-K and concentrate on the 13 grades we now have. If there isn’t enough money to go around, then the first things cut are extracurriculars. The were never meant to be part of free public education anyway. Make teachers’ first priority teaching academics instead of coaching! Combine administrations of different school districts under one umbrella (Sioux Falls does this already). I agree that individual laptops for every high school student is a waste of money – make more computer labs instead. And no more grade inflation!
There is one thing I would like explained though. Make Rounds explain how he recycles money appropriated one year for K-12 but not used into the next year’s education budget. Any money left over at the end of the year which was appropriated but not spent for K-12 should be sent back to the school districts on a per head basis, no formula, simply per head, to be used at the school district’s discretion for academic purposes only, or for one time teacher bonuses maybe. Wouldn’t make any difference if the amount was different per year if it went to teacher bonuses. Or if it was used for some academic needs.
great points by the first couple posters. hardly anyone supports this lawsuit. even fewer support using tax dollars to do it.
Taxpayer suing taxpayer! This whole thing is BS. I used to think Rory King was a good guy, he is no different from the rest. Rory shame on you!
The only one who wins in this STUPID lawsuit is the lawyer! I can’t believe more people aren’t just mad over this!
Nothing more needs to be said!
Should the post office sue the federal government?
How about the NAVY–if the NAVY can’t get the job done with the money allotted then should they sue?
Maybe the county weed superviser or the road crew–maybe they should sue for more money so they can have bigger pay checks?
For heaven sake! more than 50% of the state budget ALREADY goes to education. Use the money SMARTER–less administration–less sueing teachers for having Bible clubs–less atheltics–less comprehensive sex ed—more teaching students to THINK–not just learn. More technology (computer labs) and distance learning–fewer laptops to individual students—fewer wasted miles and hours busing students together. Less hype and more education.
Actually the oneroom school house with up to 18 students of mixed grades was one of the most effective educational systems we have ever used. Maybe we should add a couple of computers and return to neighborhood schools.