Burgess Owens: “It is highly likely that there will be a budget surplus of no less than 50 billion dollars for the coming budget year.…”

“It is highly likely that there will be a budget surplus of no less than 50 billion dollars for the coming budget year. For the first time in many decades there will be a window of opportunity to make meaningful federal investments in education. Unfortunately, the federal share of the overall expenditures for education is merely seven percent at present. This budget surplus offers an opportunity to bolster our national security by increasing the pool of brainpower to operate our increasingly complex society. I propose that the new budget surplus be divided in accordance with clear national priorities. One fourth of the surplus should be set aside for social security; one fourth should be used to give tax relief to families earning less than 50,000 dollars a year; one fourth should be allocated for direct emergency funding for school construction; and one fourth should be invested in other education priorities such as smaller class sizes, education technology, books, equipment, etc. This represents a worthy budget deal which should immediately be placed on the table for discussion and debate. We need an open debate on the best use for the surplus. What American voters should fear is a closed door, smoke-filled room deal in October with only representatives of the Republican controlled Appropriations Committees (House and Senate) and the White House present. A multibillion dollar deal is going to be made. Let this deal be done in the sunshine.”