From the New York Times (11/13/2016) “Politicians and voters often say they want better schools, but that doesn’t mean they are willing to pay for them.”
On Election Day,voters rejected attempts to increase school spending. In 23 states, formular funding – the main type of state funding for K-12 grades, the current funding is lower than in 2008, adjusted for inflation and the growing numbers of students. In seven of the 23 states (Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Wisconsin) legislators have cut income taxes in recent years by “tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Only in Maine where voters backed a tax surcharge on annual income in excess of $200,000. In Oregon,a proposed business tax increase to help pay for schools failed.
Obviously, “putting your money where your mouth is” has no meaning for politicians and voters in 23 states.