
Abortion Pill; Trump Trials; School Funding
Season 20 Episode 37 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Abortion Pill; Trump Trials; School Funding
The panelists talk about the pending Supreme Court case involving the Abortion Pill. Next, they talk about Donald Trumps legal woes, which case should he be nervous about? Finally, a talk about a new school funding formula.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Ivory Tower is a local public television program presented by WCNY

Abortion Pill; Trump Trials; School Funding
Season 20 Episode 37 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
The panelists talk about the pending Supreme Court case involving the Abortion Pill. Next, they talk about Donald Trumps legal woes, which case should he be nervous about? Finally, a talk about a new school funding formula.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipBIG NEWS FROM THE COURTS.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DISCUSSED AN ABORTION PILL AND HERE IN NEW YORK • A FIRST -- A FORMER PRESIDENT FACES A CRIMINAL TRIAL.
STAY TUNED FOR IVORY TOWER.
WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.
I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
JOINING ME ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK ARE TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE MICHAEL TILLOTSON FROM SUNY-CORTLAND, CHAD SPARBER FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY AND BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY THIS WEEK THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BEGAN RUSTLING WITH THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION'S REGULATIONS MAKING IT SOMEWHAT EASIER FOR WOMEN TO GET THE ABORTION BILL MIFEPRISTONE.
WOMEN CAN NOW TAKE THE PILL UP THROUGH THE TENTH WEEK OF PREGNANCY AND THEY CAN GET IT FROM CERTIFIED PROVIDERS AS WELL AS DOCTORS.
AND THE WOMEN CAN MEET THEM BY TELEMEDICINE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO A MEDICAL OFFICE.
SO, CHAD, IF THE COURT REVERSES THESE PROVISIONS, DOES THAT MEAN THE COURT IS SECOND GUESSING THESE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THEIR SCIENCE?
>> I THINK YOU WANT SOME KIND OF AGENCY TO BE SECOND GUESSING THESE AGENCIES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FDA IS EFFECTIVELY A TECHNOCRATIC, NOT A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION SO YOU WANT SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT.
I'LL OFFER SOME BROAD DEFENSE OF FDA SCEPTICS HERE AND TO SAY THAT BACK IN JANUARY OF 2020 PRE-COVID, THERE IS A TEAM OF HARVARD DOCTORS AND LAWYERS WHO WROTE AN ACADEMIC ARTICLE DETAILING IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES THE FDA HAS GOTTEN FASTER APPROVING NEW MEDICINES RELYING ON EVIDENCE WEAKER EVIDENCE IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
ADD TO THAT THAT THE DRUG MAKERS SPEND ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE FDA, THEY FUND 80% OF THE FDA'S SALARIES FOR DRUG REVIEWS, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE A RECIPE WHERE THE INCENTIVES ARE TERRIBLE AND YOU HAVE A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM SO ACTION YOAS REPORTED THAT AXIOS REPORTED THAT 40% OF REPUBLICANS AND 59% OF DEMOCRATS TRUST THE FDA A FAIR AMOUNT OF THE TIME OR MORE SO DO I WANT SOMEBODY CHECKING IN ON THAT?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
BUT IF YOU GO TO THE SPECIFIC CASE,IT'S KIND OF WEAK.
THE DRUG HAS BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR 15 YEARS AND THE LEGAL CHALLENGES, IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THE PEOPLE HAVE STANDING AT ALL SO THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE CASE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT I JUST MADE.
>> I WONDER GOING TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE, IS THIS DRUG SAFE?
THE DRUG HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND THE PLAINTIFFS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY.
>> BY THE NUMBERS IT'S SAFE.
AS FAR AS IT'S ABOUT 99.7% SAFE WITHOUT SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS.
BUT, WHAT COMES AT THE HEART OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY WAS A COUPLE THINGS.
THE ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE MENTIONED THOUGH IS THIS COMP STACK ACT THAT KEEPS COMING UP, THAT THEY KEPT INTRODUCING SCOTUS WAS INTRODUCING INTO THE ARGUMENT, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE ARGUMENT.
AND JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
THAT WAS AN 1873 LAW OR AN ACT, I SHOULD SAY, THAT DRILLIZED CRIMINALIZED THE DISTRIBUTION OF OBSCENE, LEWD AND LA SIEVOUS MATERIAL THROUGH THE U.S. U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE.
SO WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THE FACT THAT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A COUPLE OF THE JUSTICES MULTIPLE TIMES.
>> AS A HINT... >> I THINK IT IS FORETELLING THE FUTURE OF WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER TO HEAR RELATED TO FUTURE THINGS.
AND I DON'T SEE THIS-- I AGREE WITH CHAD, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING ANYWHERE.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE REMOVED, YOU KNOW, BY GROUNDS.
>> WELL, MICHAEL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE AN ANALYST AFTER THE COURT'S ARGUMENTS THOUGHT THE COURT WAS GOING TO DISMISS THIS SAYING THE PLAINTIFFS, THE DOCTORS REALLY WEREN'T AFFECTED BY THIS SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE WHAT THE COURT CALLED STANDING,...
SKIN IN THE BECAME.
>> THE CHARACTER OF THE COURT HAS TO COME INTO QUESTION, PARTICULARLY THEY TALK ABOUT STANDING, RIGHT?
MOMENTARILY THERE SEEMS TO BE EMPATHY TOWARD THE QUESTION.
DOES NOT MEAN THAT IN JULY THE MAJORITY WON'T RULE THE OTHER WAY AGAINST WOMEN AGAIN.
I WOULD LIKE FOR TO US RECALL THE JUSTICES KAVANAUGH, GORSUCH SAID IN IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, ENTITLED THE RESPECT, THE IDEA THAT PRIOR DECISIONS AND RULINGS AND OPINIONS SHOULD BE HELD.
SO THOSE OF US WHO WANT WOMEN TO HAVE SOVEREIGNTY AND CONTROL AND AUTHORITY OVER THEIR BODIES HAVE TO HOLD OUR BREATH UNTIL JULY TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT APPEARED THAT THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
>> JUST REAL QUICK, HE BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT BECAUSE THEY CALLED THE 1873 COMSTOCK ACT A ZOMBIE LAW BECAUSE FOR YEARS IT WAS USELESS.
BUT THEN DOBBS, YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE SO ZOMBIE ANYMORE.
>> THE ISSUE WOULD BE SENDING THESE MATERIALS THROUGH THE MAIL MIGHT VIOLATE THE COMSTOCK ACT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> TARA, I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, 14 STATES, I THINK IT IS, HAVE OUTLAWED ABORTION, SO CONSERVATIVES AND FOLKS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN THE COUNTRY SAY WELL WHY SHOULD WOMEN BE ABLE TO GET THIS DRUG THROUGH THE MAIL IN THOSE STATES?
DO THEY HAVE A POINT?
>> I THINK THEY DO IN THE SENSE THAT CLEARLY THIS IS A LOOPHOLE.
AND WHAT THEY SEE THEMSELVES DOING, CERTAINLY THE MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE FOR HIPPOCRATIC MEDICINE, THESE DOCTORS WHO SUPPOSEDLY ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, IN TERMS OF SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN PROOF THE DRUG IS SAFE.
THERE THEIR ARGUMENT IS THE CONCERN THAT THERE IS A LOOPHOLE AND THAT YOU DO HAVE WOMEN OUT THERE WHO #-R IN STATES HAVING ACCESS TO ABORTION THAT CLEARLY THEIR STATE LEGISLATORS, BASED ON THE CITIZENRY HAVE DECIDED THEY SHOULD NOT.
BUT ALSO, YOU HAVE WOMEN HAVING ACCESS TO ABORTIONS WHO MAY BE HARMED BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH QUOTE UNQUOTE TESTING OF THIS DRUG DURING, YOU KNOW, UP TO THE 10 WEEKS IN WHICH YOU CAN USE IT.
SO, IN THAT SENSE, THEY WOULD BE RIGHT.
BUT THE OTHER REALITY IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GO DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE OF TRYING TO REGULATE THINGS THROUGH THE MAIL, AND YES, WE KNOW THERE IS SOME OF THAT, THEN WHERE DO YOU STOP?
WE DON'T SAY IN STATES THAT DON'T ALLOW, LET'S SAY CIGARETTES FOR TEENAGERS, YOU KNOW, IS ANYONE SPECIFICALLY CHECKING THE MAIL TO MAKE SURE A TEENAGER DOESN'T HAVE THEIR FRIEND MAILING THEM CIGARETTES?
SO WHERE WOULD IT STOP?
AND THAT'S THE BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE.
>> BARBARA, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTION THE CONCERN ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED WHICH SHOULD NOT COME AS A SURPRISE TO ANYONE OF US, THAT DEMAND FOR ABORTION VARY IN ELASTIC, MEANS THE PRICE OF ABORTION HAS NO INFLUENCE ON WHETHER OR NOT A WOMAN GETS ONE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IN THIS CONTEXT IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A RESTRICTION IN SUPPLY, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY WHAT A BAN IS, IT HAS NO CONSEQUENCE ON WHETHER OR NOT ABORTIONS OCCUR, AND SO IF YOU HAVE THIS, I HOPE THAT PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT CAN SHARE THE IDEA THAT FEWER ABORTIONS ARE BETTER.
AND IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THAT COMMON GOAL, IT SUGGESTS THAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHIFT THE DEMAND CURVE, MAKE CONDITIONS SO THAT WOMEN WANT FEWER ABORTIONS OPPOSED TO CONCENTRATING ON THE SUPPLY ISSUES, WHICH IS WHAT IS IN THE NEWS NOW.
>> BUT IF YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES WHAT HAVE WAS SAID YESTERDAY, IT WAS FETAL PERSONHOOD THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE TIMES THAT IS AT THE HEART OF THIS ISSUE, THAT I SEE FORETELLING OF WHERE FUTURE CASES ARE GOING TO GO.
>> WELL, THE COURT WILL BE DECIDING BY JUNE.
FROM THE SUPREME COURT TO TWO NEW YORK COURTS.
THERE DONALD TRUMP HEARD MAJOR DECISIONS THIS WEEK.
LET'S START WITH THE CRIMINAL TRIAL NOW SET FOR APRIL 15.
IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT A FORMER PRESIDENT WILL BE ON TRIAL IN A CRIMINAL MATTER.
THE CHARGE IS THAT HE WAS CORRUPTING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2016, NOT WANTING VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT HIS SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH AN ADULT FILM STAR.
SO THE STATE ALLEGES HE FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS BY SAYING THE MONEY HE PAID STORMY DANIELS NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT • WAS A LEGAL EXPENSE.
MICHAEL, DO YOU SEE AUTO THIS CASE AS SIGNIFICANT AMONG ALL OF THE CASES TRUMP IS FACING.
>> THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
LET ME SEE IF I ASK SKETCH THIS OUT FOR YOU.
WE HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENCY.
THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO IS SELLING GOLD GYM SHOES AND BIBLES, THE POTENTIAL LEADER OF FREE WORLD OUT ON BOPPED TRYING TO SECURE ANOTHER BOND.
WE HAVE BEEN COERCED INTO NORMALIZING THIS.
THIS IS NOT NORMAL BY ANY ACCOUNT, RIGHT?
THIS FALL THIS GUY WILL GO FROM THE DEBATE STAND TO THE WITNESS STAND, FROM THE WITNESS STAND BACK TO THE DEBATE STAGE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL WISH HIM WELL IN BOTH SPACES.
I THINK MARK TWAIN SAID IT BEST THAT THE TRUTH OF LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION AND WE ARE LIVING IN THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN AND THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT THE FOUNDERS INTENDED.
I'M REASONABLY CERTAIN ABOUT THAT.
TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, HE IS MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO USE HIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AS A RECRUITING TOOL FOR BLACK AMERICANS.
I JUST THINK THIS PERSON HAS NO BOTTOM.
>> SAY MORE ABOUT HOW HE IS USING IT AS A RECRUITING TOOL FOR BLACK AMERICANS.
>> HE MAKES THE POINT THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST LIKE HE HAS BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST WITH NO CONTEXT WHATSOEVER.
I THINK IT'S INSULTING.
>> BEN, HOW SIGNIFICANT DO YOU SEE THIS?
SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S JUST A LITTLE HUSH MONEY CASE, NOT A BIG DEAL.
>> WHAT MAKES IT A BIG DEAL IS BECAUSE COOKING THE BOOKS IS A MISDEMEANOR BUT THE WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO RAISE IT TO A FELONY WAS ARGUING THAT IT WAS INTERFERING WITH THE ELECTION AS FAR AS USING CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO PAY OFF STORMY DANIELS THROUGH HIS LAWYER AND COOKING THE BOOKS IN THE PROCESS SO HE COULD BE ELECTED.
THAT'S AT THE HEART OF THE ARGUMENT.
PEOPLE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT HIS LAWYER AT THE TIME HAS PLEAD GUILTY TO THAT-- >> AND SERVED TIME.
>> AND HE IS GOING TO BE A KEY WITNESS IN THIS CASE THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP, IF IT DOES IN FACT START ON APRIL 15.
>> TARA, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TOUCH UPON THIS NOTION THAT TRUMP IS UTILIZING THESE CRIMINAL CASES.
ON THE ONE HAND IT'S A WEIRD MIX OF ADMIRATION THAT HE SEEMS TO BE EFFECTIVE AT DOING THIS, BUT ALSO REALLY SORT OF NAUSEATED IN THE SENSE THAT ABSOLUTELY THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT A FORMER PRESIDENT OR A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO BE DOING.
AND THAT IS THAT HE IS USING BOTH OF THESE CASES, BASICALLY AS A FUNDRAISING TOOL.
AND THERE DOESN'T, AT LEAST SO FAR, SEEM TO BE ANY WAY TO STOP HIM FROM DOING SO.
SO AS MICHAEL SAID, HE WILL GO, BASICALLY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE CAMPAIGN STUMP INTO THE COURTROOM, BUT WHAT HIS PLAN IS, IS TO USE THAT TIME IN THE COURTROOM TO BASICALLY RAISE FUNDS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.
AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH MICHAEL.
THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT WHAT THE FOUNDERS INTENDED.
AND ALSO IT MAKES A MOCKERY OF THE FACT THAT THESE ARE CRIMINAL ACTS OF WHICH HE IS ACCUSED.
AND THAT JUST AS ANY ONE OF US WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, HE SHOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT EAR SERIOUSLY, TOO.
AND IT'S HIS STRATEGY TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT'S ALL PERSECUTION.
BUT YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE OTHER CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO STOP HIM FROM REALLY SORT OF MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE CRIMINAL COURT, CIVIL COURT PROCEEDINGS THAT HE IS GOING THROUGH.
>> BARBARA, YOU HAD ASKED HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS.
SO LAST MONTH, OR THIS MONTH REGARDS, POLITICO CAME OUT WITH A POLL THAT FOUND THAT 9% OF REPUBLICANS AND 36% OF INDEPENDENTS WOULD BE LESS LIKELY TO SUPPORT TRUMP IF HE WAS CONVICTED IN THIS MANHATTAN CASE.
I'M ACTUALLY SKEPTICAL OF THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE THE MANHATTAN CASE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WEAKEST OF THE CASES AGAINST HIM.
IT'S ABOUT HUSH MONEY, AS BEN ALLUDED TO, THE PROSECUTORS HAVE TO PROVE THAT TRUMP ORDERED HIS STAFF TO FALSIFY THESE ENTRIES WITH THE PURPOSE TO DEFRAUD AND THEY HAVE TO PROVE THAT HE MADE THOSE FALSE ENTRIES TO SANCTION ANOTHER CRIME.
AND GIVEN THAT DIFFICULTY, AND GIVEN THAT THIS IS KIND OF ABOUT HIS SEX LIFE, TRUMP IS GOING TO HAVE AN EASIER TIME ARGUING THIS IS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WITCH HUNT, EVEN IF HE IS CONVICTED.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS MICHAEL AND TARA HAVE SAID, WOE IS ME VICTIMOLOGY HAS SERVED TRUMP WELL IN THE PAST, AS MADDENING AS THAT IS.
SO HOW SIGNIFICANT?
I MEAN I THINK HE COULD GET OFF, AND EVEN IF HE DOESN'T, I THINK HE COULD PARLEY IT INTO SUCCESS.
>> AND CHAD BRINGS UP A REALLY GOOD POINT, THE STANDARD OF PROOF YOU HAVE TO DO AT THIS CRIMINAL LEVEL VERSUS THE CIVIL LEVEL AND TRUMP HAS BEEN A MASTER FOR DECADES OR DEALING WITH CIVIL LITIGATION.
SOMETHING HE HAS DEALT WITH PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA.
AND DENYING, DEFLECTING AND DELAYING.
>> MICHAEL, THERE WAS ANOTHER CASE THIS WEEK, A CIVIL CASE, AND HE HAS ALREADY BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR BUSINESS FRAUD IN AND HE IS APPEALING HIS CONVICTIONS, BUT HE HAS TO PUT THE MONEY UP AND THE COURT CUT THAT, THE APPEALS COURT CUT THAT BACK A LOT THIS WEEK.
BUT ONE CONVICTION AND ONE PENDING TRIAL, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT HIS IMAGE OF, YOU KNOW, HE IS GREAT WITH THE ART OF THE DEAL?
>> WELL, HE IS GREAT WITH THE ART OF THE DEAL IF THE DEAL IS HOW TO GET OUT OF BEING PROSECUTED.
MAYBE HE SHOULD GO BACK AND REWRITE THAT BOOK.
HOWEVER WHEN WE THINK OF TRUMP, HE HAS DONE A MAGISTERIAL JOB OF HARNESSING ANGER, GRIEVANCE AS POLICY AND I THINK OTHER THAN THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW IN WORLD HISTORY, AMERICA HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO THIS DEGREE.
AND I HOPE WE CAN RECOVER.
>> WELL, LET'S MOVE TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.
AMONG THOSE EAGERLY WAITING FOR THE STATE BUDGET DUE TO BE PASSED BY NEXT MONDAY IS YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD.
IT CAN'T SET ITS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR UNTIL IT KNOWS ITS STATE MONEY.
NOT DONATIONS BUT MONEY ALLOCATIONS TO THEM.
THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED AN AN INCREASE OF 4.3% BUT AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN WE ARE RECORDING, THE LEGISLATURE HABIT AGREED TO THAT.
THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THE INCREASES HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN INFLATION.
YET THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IS DECREASING.
SO, TARA, HOW DOES THE LEGISLATURE FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH TO SPEND AND WHO GETS WHAT?
>> WELL, BASICALLY THE LEGISLATURE USES A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
THEY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY PROPERTY TAXES, THEY LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEY LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF WHAT I WOULD CALL STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WHETHER THAT'S COUNSELING, OR ACTUALLY SPECIAL NEEDS IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL DISABILITIES, YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK AT THE POVERTY RATE OF THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
>> IT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED FORMULA, CONFUSING, AT LEAST TO ME.
>> I THINK TO PRETTY MUCH ALL OF US.
AND INCREASINGLY THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT EVIDENCE-BASED SCORING AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, OKAY, IF YOU-- AND THIS IS SOMETHING GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS SHOWN TO BE VERY SYMPATHETIC TO, IS THAT IF YOUR SCHOOL IS UNDER PERFORMING, IN TERMS OF STUDENT SCORES, ET CETERA, THEN THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
SO ALL OF THESE ARE FACTORS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT 4.3 INCREASE , THE ISSUE HERE IS HOW IS IT GOING TO BE STRETCHED OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE?
WILL UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS OR SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN MORE POVERTY STRICKEN AREAS, WILL THEY GET MORE?
WHAT WILL THAT MORE MEAN?
IS IT PART OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET?
IS IT FOR, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WHICH INCREASINGLY STUDENTS NEED?
SO WHAT IS IT FOR?
>> CHAD, THERE IS ONE THEORY THAT YOU SHOULD BASE IT ON ENROLLMENT BECAUSE THAT'S AN INCENTIVE TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL.
THERE IS ANOTHER THEORY THAT IT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE NEEDS, AS TARA IS SAYING.
AND CHICAGO RECENTLY HAD VERY MUCH A NEEDS BASE AND CHANGED A LITTLE BIT AND SAID EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STAFF.
HOW DO YOU SEE THAT?
>> CHICAGO IS NOT WHERE WOULD I GO FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WELL FUNCTIONING SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
TWO YEARS AGO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAD PUBLISHED THIS VIDEO CALLED LIBERAL HYPOCRISY IS FUELING AMERICAN INEQUALITY.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHY I MIGHT LIKE A VIDEO OF THAT TITLE.
IT SINGLED OUT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IF THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT EDUCATION EQUALITY, IT WOULD DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FAIRLY EVENLY ACROSS THE AREA.
BUT, INSTEAD, COOK COUNTY HAS 140 DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO THE RICH DISTRICTS STAY RICH AND THE POOR ONES STILL SUFFER.
BUT ALL THAT ASIDE, WHAT YOU DESCRIBE SOUNDS LIKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE IT RECOGNIZES THAT?
SOME KIDS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE TO TEACH THAN OTHER KIDS ARE AND SO IF YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, CARING ABOUT INEQUALITY, THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE EXPANDED TO BEYOND A LOCAL AREA.
>> MICHAEL, I REMEMBER YOU SAID YOUR WIFE IS AN EDUCATORS SO I'M WONDERING HER VIEW ON THIS.
>> I THINK MY WIFE HAS BEEN IN THAT BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS ARE SO.
AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HEARD FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES IS THAT SHE AND HER COLLEAGUES, MOST OF THEM BELIEVE THAT A SCHOOLS APPROPRIATION FORMULA NOT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS BUT BASED ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS SUCH AS ESL OR HOMELESS STUDENTS OR POVERTY STRICKEN STUDENTS OR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES COULD POSSIBLY BE THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN A LONG TIME.
TO HAVE AN EGALITARIAN IDEA THAT BALANCES FUNDING ACROSS THE BOARD AND BASED ON ACTUAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS VERSUS SCHOOL POPULATION SIZE, FOR ME, IS FORWARD THINKING IN PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST AS SHOULD BE DONE IN A DEMOCRACY.
ON THE OTHER SIDE WE FIND MONEY FOR CORPORATE WELFARE AND CORPORATE TAX CUTS SO LET'S FIND MONEY FOR AMERICA'S TREASURES, IT'S CHILDREN AND MINIMIZE THE VOICES UNAFFECTED.
THE HOME SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOL, BORDER SCHOOLS AND MILITARY SCHOOLS.
LET'S MINIMIZE THEIR INFLUENCE ON THESE QUESTIONS.
>> JUST REAL QUICK.
26 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK WOULD SEE BUDGET DECREASE IF SHE GETS RID OF SAVE HARMLESS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS QUICKLY.
>> I'LL TRY.
SAVE HARMLESS IS A PRINCIPLE THAT SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS CANNOT GET A DECREASE IN FUNDING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT-- I HOPE I'M CHARACTERIZING THAT CORRECTLY.
RICK FENNER WROTE HIS DISSERTATION ON THIS.
SO EFFECTIVELY WHAT HOCHUL WANTED TO DO WAS DECREASE FUNDING FOR RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS REDISTRIBUTE SOME OF THE MONEY TO URBAN DISTRICTS AND THAT HAS RURAL COMMUNITIES VERY UPSET.
AND IT SHOULD.
>> HAVE THE WORLD EDUCATION SYSTEM UPSET BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEEDS AS WELL THERE.
HAS TO BE A BALANCE WITH THE WAY THE FUNDS ARE SPREAD OUT.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB UNPACKING THE ISSUES AT HAND, THE ENROLLMENT, THE POVERTY, A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND TEACHERS THAT HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE GET PAID MORE, BUT THEY ALSO DO A BETTER JOB AT INSTRUCTING AND SO THAT, STRIKING THAT BALANCE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
>> OKAY, IT'S TIME FOR Fs AND As.
LET'S START WITH THE F, TARA.
>> MY F GOES TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF OKLAHOMA PROPOSE POSING TO ROLL BACK LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES LIMITING POULTRY WASTE DISCHARGE INTO THE WATERWAYS OF OKLAHOMA.
OKLAHOMA HOUSE BILL 4118 WOULD ALSO LIMIT OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS TO ENFORCE THE STATE'S NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW A RETURN TO POULTRY PRODUCTION PLANTS POLLUTING THE WATERWAYS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND PARTICULARLY THE WATERWAYS OF THE NATIVE PEOPLES WHO LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.
>> MICHAEL.
>> MY F, DOUBLE F AND TRIPLE F GOES TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR ALLOWING A LAW ENFORCEMENT CULTURE TO EXIST THAT INCLUDES A DEPRAVED GOON SQUAD THAT BRUTELY AND SADISTICALLY TORTURED TWO BLACK AMERICANS AND MANY OTHERS WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT.
>> IT ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC CASES, JUST ATROCIOUS.
CHAD, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO NBC FOR HIRING THEN FIRING RON McDANIEL, FORMER RNC CHAIR AS POLITICAL ANALYST.
TRUST ME, I UNDERSTAND WHY THE NEWS OUTLET WOULD WANT A CONSERVATIVE PUNDIT BUT McDANIEL KNOWINGLY PROMOTED THE LIE ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION FRAUD AND DISMISSED IT BY SAYING WHEN YOU ARE THE RNC CHAIR, YOU TAKE ONE FOR THE WHOLE TEAM, RIGHT?
BONUS A TO LIZ CHAIN CHENEY CALLING HER OUT ON THAT SAYING THAT IS ENABLING CRIMINALITY AND DEPRAVITY AND AS TO CHUCK TODD FOR CRITICIZING HIS BOSS ON THE AIR.
SADLY, NOW THAT SHE HAS BEEN FIRED, I'M WORRIED SHE IS GOING TO CLAIM THAT SHE HAS BEEN IT CANCEL AND IN THAT SHE WILL WIN.
>> BEN, YOUR F. >> MY F GOES TO GREEK POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS ARRESTED THIS WEEK WITH 225 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA.
HE WAS SMUGGLING THAT MARIJUANA IN HIS PATROL CAR WHILE ON DUTY.
HIS COLLEAGUES TRIED TO STOP HIM AT A CHECKPOINT NEAR THE BORDER.
AT THAT POINT, THAT'S WHEN A CAR CHASE WAS INVOLVED.
HE WRECKED THE CAR.
THAT'S THE DRUGS WERE RECOVERED AND TWO OTHER OFFICERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE THEN CONNECTED TO IT.
>> WELL, TARA SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENED OR SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WELL.
>> MY A GOES TO VAUGHN GETTING OF WALES.
HE WAS CONFIRMED AS PRIME MINISTER THE WALES THIS WEEK MAKING HIM THE FIRST EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT LEADER OF AFRICAN DESCENT AND THE FIRST LEADER OF COLOR OF THE WELSH LABOR PARTY.
>> VERY INTERESTING.
MICHAEL, HOW ABOUT YOURS.
>> MY A AND THANK YOU GOES TO C-4, THE CORTLAND COUNTY COMMUNITY OF COLOR, ITS PRESIDENT Dr. GINA GRAHAM AND Mr. LOPEZ AND KATRINA HODGE ALONG WITH SPECIAL GUEST STATE SENATOR LEAH WEBB.
THEY HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT ON MARCH 22.
WELL DONE, FOLKS.
>> VERY GOOD.
CHAD.
>> MY A GOES TO CIMARRON SANDERS, JAMESVILLE DEWITT SECOND GRADER WHO WON THE SPELLING BEE FOR THE SECOND TIME.
SHE WILL TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON D.C.
IN MAY TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL BEE.
I WISH HER THE BEST OF LUCK.
HER WINNING WORD IS A BABBALINK.
AN AMERICAN SONG BIRD.
>> SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WELL.
>> MY A GOES TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT.
THEY UTILIZED AND PUBLICLY DISTRIBUTED APPLIED INTELLIGENCE WARNING OF MASS SHOOTINGS IN MOSCOW A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT THAT OCCURRED THIS PAST FRIDAY.
AS OF THIS MORNING, 139 HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD, THREE BEING CHILDREN.
FRIDAY ON THE 22nd OF THIS MONTH, LESS EVERYONE A WEEK AFTER PUTIN HAD WON HIS FIFTH TERM, GUNMEN, FOUR GUNMEN WENT INTO A CONCERT HALL THAT WAS SOLD OUT, SHOOTING UP MULTIPLE VICTIMS, OBVIOUSLY AND THEN LIT THE PLACE ON FIRE BEFORE ESCAPING.
SO MY A IS GOING TO THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S UTILIZATION OF THIS INTELLIGENCE WARNING AND MAKING IT PUBLIC TO AVOID LARGE GATHERINGS IN Ms..
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
IT'S TIME TO CLOSE.
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