for kicking off your weekend with us.

A month before the election, the debate continues over amendment 2.

That's on the Kentucky ballot.

If passed, the state General Assembly could consider legislation to allow public money to be spent on nonpublic schools.

Supporters of the amendment say it would give families more choices.

Opponents say the diversion of tax dollars away from public schools will leave them with fewer resources.

Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman is one of those opponents.

She was in northern Kentucky yesterday to speak against amendment 2.

Joining educators and asking Kentucky wants to vote no.

>> First and foremost, a vote for amendment 2 is a vote to give a blank check to the General Assembly.

The same General Assembly that has repeatedly failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to adequately and equitably support a system of common schools.

They have failed to fund even the most basic tenants of education, classroom resources, professional development textbooks and technology that it's not a track record worthy of a blank check.

There are 3 questions that I always asked myself when it comes to evaluating any public policy that addresses education, does it put our kids first?

Second, does it support the people who show up for our kids every day and 3rd, does it give our schools the resources they need to do what we need them today?

Amendment 2, does none of those things.

And as a matter of fact, it does exactly the opposite.

>> When legislators talk about educational deserts, realize that those deserts are maintained by consistent underfunding and this pouch or program will exacerbate that situation.

The scouts are scheme will create more educational deserts.

This will hurt my district by creating a 9% reduction in school funding.

But in small independent districts like for Thomas and beat what?

The funding will be reduced by nearly 50%.

The politicians will tell you what they're hearing from their constituents, constituents on this matter.

I don't share that here, too.

Wow.

Well, funded voices.

I will continue to use my loud teacher voice and urge you to vote no on amendment 2.

>> It is no secret that rural schools stand to suffer the most just like in my home of Mercer County, there are no private schools to take about it.

So the funding that would otherwise go to those communities will instead be siphoned off and sent to private school centers like Lexington and Louisville.

I'm going to quote my grandfather.

He used to say sis.

You can't win the Kentucky Derby with a pack mule.

The future of Kentucky's economy is in our classrooms today.

These students are future engineers are entrepreneurs, journalists, one man, I'm workers.

And small business owners.

When we fail.

To ensure that their schools have adequate funding for programs, resources and staff.

We are just failing those kids.

We are failing Kentucky's