Michael Bennet

I think maybe one way to think about that is there is a difference between giving people the flexibility to do something and giving people the flexibility to do nothing, which has been the outcome in too many places I think.

We have to have some bold changes here and some bold innovations.

I think part of this is going to be solved by all of us kind of getting out of our own way here and creating politics that will allow us to make revolutionary change, not just evolutionary change.

There is not a harder job in the country than being a teacher in an urban or rural school district with children that are living in poverty.

Teaching has a much different level of public support and stature in those countries than what we have had in ours.

This is a time for very bold thinking in this country for our school districts, our States, and this country to re-imagine the teaching profession as a 21st century profession because, otherwise, I think all this other stuff is just talk.

I think that is such an important point because when I was superintendent, if you blindfolded me, I didn't know whether I was talking to a university president or somebody that was running the apprentice shop for the trades, I would hear…

It is time to make some bold moves.

If we don't take full advantage of this opportunity, if we don't think creatively and boldly, as you said, we will condemn not just our current students, but a generation of students to a lack of opportunity.

I simply can't imagine a better person for this job than Jeff Lane.

These disparities will slow the ability of the economy to recover.

Correcting these wage disparities is even more important as women have taken a greater role in our economy.

I am a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act because I believe we need to do more to address gender wage disparity.

The persistent pay gap between male and female workers is unacceptable.

We as a country are going to rue the day unless we think about the children that are living in poverty.

I agree with Senator Dodd. Parents are first, but if parents are first, teachers and school leaders are second.

I think there is enormous reform fatigue that goes on in these school districts.

I do not think anybody in the Senate would accept those odds for any of our kids or grandkids.

I cannot tell you how much I look forward to working with you on this.

We certainly do value the small banks for what they are able to do.

I had supported an effort to recapitalize community banks.

I wouldn't say that our track record there over the last 10 years has been particularly good, either, and it just is a reminder of the urgency that we face.

I think there is enormous anxiety that we are at risk of being the first generation of Americans to leave less opportunity to our kids and our grandkids.

We need to demonstrate the political will that you are talking about if we are not going to leave our kids a completely diminished set of opportunities.

Too many workers are either out of work or are underemployed.