A simple explanation of the education funding increase/decrease

The Sunday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel featured an article explaining the public education funding debate that is going on between Gov. Doyle and republican members of the state legislature.

Let's say your parents base your budget for gasoline for the year on $1.75 a gallon.

The next year, Mom and Dad say, we're increasing your allowance to cover $2 a gallon.

But gas now costs $2.30.

Have your folks given you an increase? Of course. A big one, if you look at the percentage.

Have they given you a decrease? Of course. There's no way you're going to be able to drive as far you did last year with less gasoline.

Welcome to the intense, real and genuinely important debate over state funding of education for the next two years.

It may not sway anyone's opinion on the issue, but it definitely clarifies an issue that needed clarifying. You know there's a problem when the Governor and the leader of the opposition party are calling each other liars, but both displaying hard facts and numbers in their claims.