Teachers Groups Oppose Missouri Tobacco Tax Initiative

The Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public
School Personnel (MRTA) Board of Directors has unanimously voted to oppose the tobacco tax increase known as "Raise Your Hand for Kids" (RYH4K).   MRTA is a statewide grassroots advocacy association of over 25,000 retired educators as members.

"We join a host of other education groups throughout Missouri who oppose this dangerous plan to move public tax dollars to religious and private schools through a voucher program," said Jim Kreider, Executive Director. "If this battle sounds familiar, it is because we in the education community have been fighting this transfer of tax dollars to private schools for years." Kreider went on to say, "The RYH4K initiative is extremely flawed in that it undermines the constitutional prohibition of tax dollars being distributed to religious and private schools and takes away the responsibility of the Missouri Legislature to manage and fund public education. RYH4K creates a non-elected/appointed commission to manage and fund the Early Childhood Program with very little accountability, this creates a dangerous precedent for Missouri. Non-elected commissioners are not accountable to the voters and taxpayers of Missouri and may seek to promote their own private agendas."

Raise Your Hand for Kids is funded by RAI, better-known as the parent company of RJ Reynolds.  The cigarette manufacturer has spent nearly $2.4 million to place the issue on Missouri's ballot in November. RAI and Saint Louis Billionaire  Rex Sinquefield's Gate Way Group share the same lobbyists in Jefferson City. MRTA and Gate Way Group have been on the opposite sides of education reform proposals for several years.

MRTA joins the Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE) and the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) in opposing the initiative petition.

"Big Tobacco Companies and Billionaires should not  be dictating the education of Missouri's public school children."  Kreider summarized.