To the Editor:

Last week I found in my mailbox a political flyer from Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City. He awarded himself an A+ for supporting public schools and teachers in our state. I think Clampitt is indulging in “alternative facts” like his party’s leader in the White House.

Clampitt touts his support for teacher pay raises, safer schools and smaller classes. The truth is, according to “Real Facts N.C.,” that Clampitt voted for a budget that guts public education and siphons money away from public schools into school vouchers that use taxpayer money to send children to private schools. Yes. That’s one way to have smaller classes. 

Though Clampitt claims to have voted for teacher pay raises, the truth is that the salary increases for the majority of teachers was a pittance and comes to about 30 dollars a month, hardly enough to keep up with inflation. Or as the Charlotte Observer stated, “Big Pay Raises? N.C. teachers get just a tank of gas.” That leaves most teachers in public education in N.C. still dependent on second or even third jobs. 

All this, while providing tax breaks for those with the highest incomes. Clampitt’s voting record on the environment is abysmal, and he supported measures to restrict voting rights for minorities. And by the way, he co-sponsored House bill 147 which would remove from our state constitution a proscription for the state of North Carolina to secede from the Union. 

A+? More like, “Needs Improvement.”

Mike Jones

Sylva