Mother Talkers

Maria Shriver on Education Funding Gap

by Elisa

Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 12:23:51 PM PDT

Last night I attended a private book signing in Palo Alto featuring writer and California First Lady Maria Shriver. A group of us mom bloggers gathered for some Lovin' Scoopful ice cream-- a business venture by Shriver and her brothers to also benefit the Special Olympics -- and to hear her discuss her latest book, Just Who Will You Be? ($15). The tiny 91-page-tome is a commencement speech she gave at her nephew's high school graduation. It is peppered with inspirational quotes and would make a good graduation gift or stocking stuffer.

After her spiel, she took questions from the audience, although I did not feel comfortable posing mine amidst fluff like "how do you fit in time to meditate?" Once I reached the front of the line for her to sign my book I asked her, "So, are you encouraging Arnold to fund our schools?"

"I am encouraging him to put money in a lot of places."

The problem, she said, is identifying other sources of revenue for the state. She was not sure how we could pay for education and other services without increasing taxes. Fair enough.

"He wants to," she said of her husband's willingness to fund our schools. If he puts his money where his mouth is, he will encourage his fellow Republicans to support the necessary tax increases. Of course, lack of federal funding and Proposition 13, which puts a tight cap on property tax revenue, doesn't help.

Anyways, Shriver was really friendly and articulate. Also, what can't money buy, including a killer body after having 4 children? Seriously, she looked more amazing in person than on television!

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Tags: Maria Shriver, education funding, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, private book signing (all tags)

Permalink | 7 comments

  • How lucky are YOU? (0 / 0)

    Wow - now that's something I'd love to say I did....have a confab with Maria.  She is an all-time favorite of mine.  Smart, articulate, compassionate, wise and yet not the least bit condescending, vulnerable, real.  Phew.  She's a winner in my book.  LOVE HER.  It's hard to imagine she looks even better in the flesh.  I think she's got great presence on camera.  What a wonderful spokesperson and example of what women can be and in this her latest "pursuit," her acknowledging how much more in touch with her "real" self she feels now than ever before.  

    She spoke recently about being with her Mom during these last challenging years of more fragile health with both her parents.  Having lost my Mom years ago, I was moved so much by her description of just BEING there for her Mom --- just BEING there....no hoopla, just two people that love each other.  Beautiful.  My throat is closing it chokes me up even now.

    karen

    by karen m on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 01:16:54 PM PDT

  • Irony? Party of One! (0 / 0)

    Just Who Will You Be?

    Just who will the children of California be if her husband short changes the state's education system?

    Sorry, I thought it was too obvious to ignore.

    Miles and His Favorites: The World As Seen By an Eight Year Old

    by Hillary on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 01:44:48 PM PDT

    • good one (0 / 0)

      I don't hold her responsible for her husband's policies but there are some easy fixes, like closing loopholes for yacht buyers.  Currently they pay no taxes on their yacht purchase if they keep the boat out of state for a year.  Gimme a break.  And that's just cherry-picking one example.

      There was a story in the L.A. Times last week about a survey of students at 6 of L.A.'s lowest-performing high schools.  The numbers were astonishing.  Over 60% feel afraid at school on a daily basis.  The majority of students KNOW they have been given up on, and they are either checked out / despairing, or really pissed off.  The schools (including funding) are not entirely at fault; they are located in neighborhoods where family dynamics are not all conducive to good behavior or good performance at school.  Still, it's really hard for me to square the failing schools with making sure the yacht owners don't feel a pinch.

      by mamacita on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 03:15:18 PM PDT

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  • Gray Davis wasn't such a girly-man after all (0 / 0)

    combing through the budget, trying to figure out what to cut and what to save.

    I would have asked her why taxes are off the table. Certainly there are options to choose less onerous ones. The vehicle license fee cut was supposed to be temporary. It's fine to say it's onerous, but then we need to find alternate revenue sources. In the end, these cuts will cost California dearly: we'll have to spend a lot more money and get a lot smaller result to rebuild the programs that are being jettisoned, programs that do such frivilous things as teach struggling kids to read.

    I saw this T-shirt at a Family Expo event this weekend. I don't believe the wearer intended it to be ironic.

    by shenanigans on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 02:16:30 PM PDT

    • By the way (0 / 0)

      I'd much rather see increases in the vehicle license fee or in income taxes than in property taxes. Property tax is one of few tax situations where you can have a very high tax bill even with little or no liquid income. All we need to restore education funding is $150 per person.

      by shenanigans on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 02:29:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  • I saw her (0 / 0)

    years ago when Grant was about 2 years old.  She made a stop here in town to autograph copies of her book, What's Wrong with Timmy?  I agree with you that she looked even more amazing in person.

    Bummer about the education funding situation out there.  Ohio's is considered unconstitutional because of the heavy reliance on property taxes.  Sad in both cases.  Our country needs to make education more of a priority.

    "If it's not Scottish, it's crap!" ~Mike Meyers

    by 1plain1peanut on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 05:36:45 PM PDT

  • better (0 / 0)

    The more I learn about CA, the better I feel about our property taxes.  I'd say they are somewhere within 2-4% of the value of your house (versus the 1% of Prop 13),and the money stays in your town, with local control. The state helps out generously with very poor districts.

    On a side note, Maria is so beautiful!

    by NJmom on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 05:37:33 PM PDT

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