Richard Shelby actually said...

"The Federal Government, I believe, should give States the flexibility to implement critical reforms as identified on the State and local level."

"I am concerned, and I am sure you are, that the 2012 budget proposal does not request funding for the mathematics and science partnership program."

"In the area of mathematics and science partnerships, the United States continues to fall behind, as we know, other developed countries in reading, math, and science education."

"How are we going to pay for this, because that is going to be the bottom line up here this year and in the future."