Governor Bob McDonnell continues to advance the cause of getting the federal government to make a change in the tax code that will allow historic tax credits to be used in the renovation of aging public school buildings. From a press release:
Governor Bob McDonnell has directed Virginia Secretary of Education Laura Fornash to put together a comprehensive inventory of all existing Virginia public school buildings, including those not currently being used for instruction. The governor has asked for the report in order to gain a more accurate picture of the current state of the Commonwealth’s educational infrastructure, and to demonstrate how a change to the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, to allow for its use in the renovation of older school buildings for continued service as public educational facilities, could benefit the Commonwealth specifically, and the nation in general.
The report will have specifics in it, including “the age, location and current use of each facility.”
It’s due on his desk November 1st — right before the general election.
A couple of points…
1. This inventory will put hard data behind the theory of how the historic tax credits could be used to improve Virginia’s education infrastructure. It will also, critically, tell us where these older facilities are. There may be a few surprises in store.
2. It’s timing will make this a late breaking issue in the campaign. The Cuccinelli campaign has advanced an education reform platform of its own, and the tax credits are now a part of it. In the campaign’s last days, they will have specific on where the infrastructure need exists.
3. Don’t forget the jobs component. This is a job creator. And with private money.
Give the Governor credit: he knows where the campaign can be won and he’s telegraphing the message. He did earlier in the week when he came out strongly in defense of one of his own education measures, the Opportunity Educational Institute. The OEI was established to take over failing public schools. Norfolk’s school board, and the Virginia School Board Association, filed suit to get rid of the OEI.
Ken Cuccinelli’s office has the duty of defending the law in court. He needs to be talking about that on the stump.
There was one more thing that was included in McDonnell’s earlier press release, and it was from Democratic Del. Algie Howell:
“I have been fighting for educational opportunities for the past fifty years and believe that the time has come for us to provide an option for students stuck in failing schools. One of the next great civil rights battle is in educational opportunity and today I challenge leaders across the Commonwealth to join me in this fight.”
He’s right. And when it comes to innovative ways to break the cycle of failure, Virginia, and most Virginia Democrats, are way behind the pack.
Here’s your opening, Ken — the “next great civil rights battle.”
