Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Getting Stuck With the Bill
With the hearings going on inside the auditorium last week, RSR spent some time talking to Kansas Citizens for Science activists at their booth outside. One prime topic of conversation was the cost of the hearings, then estimated at around $5,000.
KCFS President Harry McDonald wondered how may field trips Kansas school children could have gone on for that amount of money.
Now, the Associated Press reports that the state actually expects to spend about $17,350 on the hearings, including $5,000 to pay lodging and other expenses for Calvert's witnesses and $5,000 to have the hearings transcribed by a court reporter, plus costs for computer and electronic equipment and security, including a walk-through metal detector.
The $17,350 the state expects to spend, according to AP, would have covered state aid for 4.5 children for the current school year, or about 45 percent of the average teacher salary of $38,800.
Pedro Irigonegaray, a high-profile Kansas attorney who represented the pro-science community at the hearings refused to accept even a penny of compensation from Kansas taxpayers.
KCFS President Harry McDonald wondered how may field trips Kansas school children could have gone on for that amount of money.
Now, the Associated Press reports that the state actually expects to spend about $17,350 on the hearings, including $5,000 to pay lodging and other expenses for Calvert's witnesses and $5,000 to have the hearings transcribed by a court reporter, plus costs for computer and electronic equipment and security, including a walk-through metal detector.
The $17,350 the state expects to spend, according to AP, would have covered state aid for 4.5 children for the current school year, or about 45 percent of the average teacher salary of $38,800.
Pedro Irigonegaray, a high-profile Kansas attorney who represented the pro-science community at the hearings refused to accept even a penny of compensation from Kansas taxpayers.
