Growls

The most expensive bill in this week’s Taxpayer’s Tab from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) is H.R. 555, sponsored by erstwhile presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). According to Congress’ THOMAS website, the Universal Prekindergarten Act would:

“Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to a designated state agency for development of universal prekindergaten programs for all children three, four, and five years old in the state.

“Requires the state to: (1) match federal funds by at least 20%; and (2) submit with its grant application a plan to establish, coordinate, and implement a statewide universal prekindergarten program.

“Authorizes state agencies to set aside up to 5% of a grant for ongoing professional development activities for teachers and staff of prekindergarten programs that wish to participate.”

NTU reports the annualized cost of the bill would be $30 billion, or $150 over five years. They also described the bill as follows:

“H.R. 555 would require the Department of Health and Human Services to award matching grants to state governments. States would receive funds after submitting an 11 point plan outlining what would be taught, what agencies and departments would be involved in the program, and how they would provide for 20 percent of matching Federal funds.

“Local individual schools and programs would also be required to describe how they would collaborate with existing community-based child care providers and Head Start programs, submit a plan to promote parental involvement in the program, and provide data detailing all funding sources -- including private contributions -- received by the program. Class sizes would be limited to 20 children and the programs must maintain at least a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

“The Prekindergarten Grant Program would initially be funded at $10 billion in FY 2012 and increase by $10 billion each of the next five years. The appropriations in H.R. 555 would be in addition to the $8.1 billion in Head Start funding that was requested by the President in his FY 2012 budget.”

Given the nation’s fiscal problems and Congress’ difficulties in reining-in federal government spending, it’s shocking that any member of Congress, let alone a hyper-progressive one, would introduce such legislation. It makes a taxpayer wonder what world some of these members of Congress live in. Rep. Kucinich, who served as mayor of Cleveland in my youth is just Example No. 1 of Congress’ big tax-and-spenders.

If you are concerned with how Rep. Kucinich spends taxpayers’ money, call and tell him. His phone numbers:

• Capitol Hill -- 202-225-5871
• Parma, Ohio -- 440-845-2707
  

Members of his district can write to him here.