Joe Lieberman: “I rise to indicate my support for cloture on this D.C. appropriations bill. I do so because, as most Members in the…”

“I rise to indicate my support for cloture on this D.C. appropriations bill. I do so because, as most Members in the Chamber, I would like to begin to see some money flow to the District generally for its operations, but I specifically want to speak to the reason why many of my colleagues will oppose the cloture motion, and that is their opposition to some of the education reform measures that have been attached to this appropriations bill. I strongly support those education reform provisions, including the scholarship program that has been referred to in this debate, which is a relatively small part of the overall District school reform proposals in this bill. It would be a shame if passage of these provisions, which could do so much to help children and families in this Capital city of ours achieve their full potential and escape the cycle of poverty, is stopped because of opposition to this modest program of scholarships for poor children.”