"Local politics are strange in these parts. Many of the cave people have never failed to pull the dem lever but they are not typical dems. They are old South dems that hate taxes of any sort plus the GOP that also hate anything that sounds like a tax. In their defense they have been living with political corruption for years and they believe that waste is responsible for our problems rather than lack of revenue."

I think political corruption is a "force multiper" meaning even a small amount can create significant damage & it IS responsible for their problems and it creates a lack of revenue.

"The issues like environment and other left favorites are not alive and well around here. It is all about revenue and how it is used. Rather than left and right it is white land owners vs a coalition of moderates, teachers unions, and the poor. That may sound like left and right to some but it is more complicated around here.

A big tax package, proposed by a Republican Govenor, designed to bail out schools is given little chance of passage."

It seems to me the this Governor should focus on reducing corruption- a "big tax package" seems to be merely adding to the problem.