Today, the Charlotte Observer published an opinion piece by State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison and N.C. Partnership for Children Chairman Olson Huff.

The title of the op-ed,  “Legislators: Time to put your money where your mouth is,” is interesting for a few reasons.  Let’s imagine that the op-ed was persuasive enough to convince legislators to throw more money at pre-kindergarten programs.  The state Senate will vote to override Governor Perdue’s veto today, and the legislature will adjourn in two days.  The “time” to make substantive changes to the budget passed weeks ago.

Second, it is ironic that the title refers to tax revenue as the legislature’s money.  Contrary to the opinion of most liberals, it is not the government’s money.  It is the taxpayers’ money.  (See Article I, Section 8 of the NC Constitution.)  A more appropriate and accurate title would be, “Legislators: put taxpayers’ money where your mouth is.”