Political Quotes

“The school district and the parents and everybody associated with it are still in great shock. They feel that they may have had a much better opportunity to prevent that had they been advised. That is why I thank the distinguished Senator from Iowa and the chairman of the committee, particularly my colleague, Senator Ashcroft, for getting that records provision in there. The teachers who have been on the front line, some stated to me, and, frankly, with fear in their eyes, ``If a child is coming in who has a record of violent behavior, at least let us know, at least let us know.'' To me, that is just--I mean, that is an unanswerable, that is an unanswerable position. There is no reason why we should not let them know. The State of Missouri has made significant changes in the policy for transfers within the State. Our State has the tremendous distinction of bordering on eight other States, including Senator Harkin's State of Iowa. About everything in the Midwest, we border on them. When a student comes in from another State, or when a student from our State goes to another State, it is only fair that the teachers and the administrators know if there is a problem. Frankly, it probably is a help for the students who have no problem because they are not treated with suspicion. If a student is without problems, it is a help to know that as well.”