School Choice Deal

A summary of my take on the supposed school choice deal, as voiced on the Early Spin this morning. (For you slackers who didn't tune in.)

• The leak was meant as a trial balloon. Gives both sides a chance to see how loudly either side reacts.
• Compromises are built on trust, Doyle has not proven to be a trustworthy negotiator in the past, School Choice Advocates are right to be skeptical and nervous.
• The Governor clearly did not get the concessions he demanded.
• The liberal bloggers are upset, this may be a good sign!
• A $25 Million increase in SAGE funding is a lot, but the devil is in the details. Is that over one year, two years, five years?
• I expressed surprise that Doyle would agree to lift the cap by 7500 students, if he hadn't postured so much over the last 8 months, he probably could have given choice a one or two year reprieve instead of this, which is a much longer lease on life.
• The radio, television and ground campaigns on behalf of choice advocates clearly had an impact
• If no deal is announced this week, it could mean the reaction to the leak was too ominous for Doyle to handle.