Frank Riggs: “I certainly am not asserting that continuation of our public schools is equivalent to maintaining a Communist…”

“I certainly am not asserting that continuation of our public schools is equivalent to maintaining a Communist authoritarian system of government. I will say that the District of Columbia public schools has too many individuals involved in the operation of those schools who are neglectful, and there is just simply too much malfeasance and even corruption in the District of Columbia government, and every Member serving in this body knows that. Secondly, with respect to the argument that there is not enough funding here to provide enough scholarships, the fact of the matter is that we now have a lottery conducted yesterday that would grant over a thousand privately funded scholarships. This legislation would fund another 2,000 some odd scholarships a year. So, all of a sudden, we can take that argument and stand it on its ear. I mean, are they actually arguing that, because we cannot serve all, we should not serve some? Would they support a program that would allow every low-income family in the District of Columbia to have a scholarship for their children?”