Bill Clinton: “I commend and thank my good friend, the Senator from California, for her usual eloquence and energy in putting forth a…”

“I commend and thank my good friend, the Senator from California, for her usual eloquence and energy in putting forth a very commonsense proposal, which is that we ought to do everything in our power to make sure our public schools work before turning our backs on them. I especially note her telling all of us that voters in California and Michigan, who have been given the chance to vote on vouchers in their own States, have not only rejected that proposal but have done so overwhelmingly. I join my friend from California, and so many others, in opposing the Gregg amendment which would provide $50 million for a voucher demonstration program. I think it is fair to ask: Why would I and others oppose a mere experiment? What I would like to do is just reflect back for a minute on an experience I had which really crystallized my opposition for me. A few years ago I was in Northern Ireland, in Belfast, where I was privileged to meet with a number of people who were crossing sectarian lines to try to come together to find a way to peacefully coexist after decades and decades of troubles between Protestant and Catholic citizens. I was so struck, after a daylong conference--where we spoke about how to set up a governing assembly, how to provide economic opportunity, how we could get more people involved in the participation required for a democracy to work--when several people said: But the real problem we face is in our schools.”