Post by showcase on Nov 10, 2004 12:40:13 GMT -5
Seems not even Senator Santorum, paragon of fiscal restraint in Congress and personal values, is not above gaming the system to get ahead on the public fisc.
www.gatewaynewspapers.com/pennhillsprogress/36884/
That's all fine and well, except it doesn't explain why his kids are theoretically enrolled in a Pennsylvania school when they are physically located in Virginia. This, however, sheds some light on that nagging little question:
Not that politicians are never hypocritical, but isn't gaming the system this way a bit over the top even for a politician? Particularly one who argues that "despite increased federal funding, many public schools are failing to provide students with the basic skills they need to succeed in life, let alone prepare them for the challenges of college or a career."?
Whomever's going to oppose Santorum in 2006 should have two or three campaign spots in the can already.
www.gatewaynewspapers.com/pennhillsprogress/36884/
Penn Hills School District records show bills paid with local taxpayers' money for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's children to attend a cyber charter school total more than $100,000.
Since the 2001-2002 school year, at least three Santorum children have been attending a cyber charter school.
This year, the school district has to pay $38,000 for Elizabeth, 13, Richard, 11, Daniel, 9, Sarah, 6, and Peter Santorum, 5, to attend Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, which is based in Beaver County.
State law requires local school districts to pay the tuition of charter school students who live in the school district.
Santorum owns a home on Stephens Lane in Penn Hills, but he, his wife and six children live in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Herndon, Va.
Santorum's office sent the following statement to the Progress in response to questions about whether the senator lives in Penn Hills and why his children are registered with Penn Hills School District:
"Sen. Santorum is in fact a resident of the Penn Hills School District. He pays state, local and real estate taxes in Pennsylvania. He spends most of his time in Washington, D.C., serving the people of Penn Hills and the commonwealth, as a United States senator.
Since the 2001-2002 school year, at least three Santorum children have been attending a cyber charter school.
This year, the school district has to pay $38,000 for Elizabeth, 13, Richard, 11, Daniel, 9, Sarah, 6, and Peter Santorum, 5, to attend Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, which is based in Beaver County.
State law requires local school districts to pay the tuition of charter school students who live in the school district.
Santorum owns a home on Stephens Lane in Penn Hills, but he, his wife and six children live in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Herndon, Va.
Santorum's office sent the following statement to the Progress in response to questions about whether the senator lives in Penn Hills and why his children are registered with Penn Hills School District:
"Sen. Santorum is in fact a resident of the Penn Hills School District. He pays state, local and real estate taxes in Pennsylvania. He spends most of his time in Washington, D.C., serving the people of Penn Hills and the commonwealth, as a United States senator.
That's all fine and well, except it doesn't explain why his kids are theoretically enrolled in a Pennsylvania school when they are physically located in Virginia. This, however, sheds some light on that nagging little question:
The only way for Santorum to not pay for his children's private education is enrolling them in Penn Hills.
Virginia state law only requires local school districts to pay for private school tuition when a student has disabilities and enrolls in a school that can satisfy his or her needs, according to Charles Pyle, Virginia Department of Education spokesman.
Otherwise, children in Virginia must attend their local public schools.
The senator pays about $2,000 in property taxes each year to the local school district on the Penn Hills home, which he bought in 1997. The $106,000 home has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms for his family of his wife, Karen, and six children.
Virginia state law only requires local school districts to pay for private school tuition when a student has disabilities and enrolls in a school that can satisfy his or her needs, according to Charles Pyle, Virginia Department of Education spokesman.
Otherwise, children in Virginia must attend their local public schools.
The senator pays about $2,000 in property taxes each year to the local school district on the Penn Hills home, which he bought in 1997. The $106,000 home has two bedrooms and two full bathrooms for his family of his wife, Karen, and six children.
Not that politicians are never hypocritical, but isn't gaming the system this way a bit over the top even for a politician? Particularly one who argues that "despite increased federal funding, many public schools are failing to provide students with the basic skills they need to succeed in life, let alone prepare them for the challenges of college or a career."?
Whomever's going to oppose Santorum in 2006 should have two or three campaign spots in the can already.
