AL-Gov 2010 - Dems Talking Policy

Here's Sparks lottery proposal:

State lotteries are educating the children of Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Every year Alabamians spend millions on these lotteries to help educate the children of other states.  A LifeStart lottery will make sure that Alabama dollars educate Alabama children.

You want to hear something frightening?  About 21,000 9th grade students in this state will not get a high school diploma.  Every year 21,000 kids enter the 9th grade who will not graduate.

And for many who do graduate, higher education is just a dream that costs too much.    College tuition in Alabama is increasing at more than twice the rate as the average family income.

It is tragic that so many talented young people drop out of school.  It is equally tragic that the dream of a better future is just too expensive for so many.  That's why, as Governor, I'll fight to create the LifeStart Scholarship Lottery program.

Every high school student with a "C" or better average will be guaranteed a scholarship to a public Alabama University, two year college, or technical program of their choice.  All others who graduate or earn a GED will be guaranteed a technical or trade education.

LifeStart scholarships will also provide funding for apprenticeship programs in both union and non-union craft training facilities.  Whether a child wants to be a PhD or pipefitter, LifeStart scholarships will make their dreams a reality.

You want to make a difference in Alabama?  LifeStart Scholarships will lower dropout rates, improve the quality of our workforce, and create hope for future generations.

I promise you, if you elect me your governor, we'll make a difference.

Davis had this to say

"It's a good thing that Ron Sparks has signed onto Congressman Davis' goals of funding college costs for young people who need help, of allowing local communities to make their own choices on gaming, and eliminating the regressive state tax on food and prescription drugs. But to achieve these ideas, Sparks has managed to cobble together some golden oldies from the last ten years of  failed stalemates in Montgomery. Instead of putting forward new plans to strengthen public education, instead of  proposing new ideas to recruit high paying jobs, Sparks wants to refight old political battles from the past decade. When pressed on how much money his plans would bring in, or how he would deal with existing laws on gaming, he said he did not know.  What Alabamians are hearing from Sparks is nothing but the old Alabama politics-- the same old sound bites, fuzzy math, and no bold new plans that challenge us to  move forward."

It's getting hot in here already.