Mitch Landrieu: “I find myself in an unusual and awkward position because I normally come to the floor to support the amendments of the…”

“I find myself in an unusual and awkward position because I normally come to the floor to support the amendments of the Senator from New Hampshire and to support his great efforts and his leadership in reforming education. He truly has been a clarion voice to lead us in many of the ways we really need to go in this country. His commitment is really exemplary. I find myself in an awkward position to oppose the amendment he has offered on a couple of very valid grounds. One is, while in a bipartisan way we certainly have supported, along with the President, targeting our dollars more carefully so that the Federal dollars actually bolster the reform efforts at the State level by helping Governors and mayors and school board members who are on the front lines who are trying to reform education, we have attempted this year for the first time --which is a pretty extraordinary victory we are about to achieve--to target more of our Federal dollars to reach those Governors, to reach those school boards, and to reach those mayors who are struggling to rebuild their systems.”