Paul Coverdell: “I will only take a minute to respond to the good Senator from New York. The point is, the legislation had come out of…”

“I will only take a minute to respond to the good Senator from New York. The point is, the legislation had come out of the Finance Committee. No one is suggesting this is the only education debate. This bill is ready. This bill has been voted on by the Senate before; 59 Senators have already supported this. This is vetted. Some of the issues the Senator alluded to certainly are not vetted; for example, the Federal Government taking on local teacher salaries. The good Senator from New York knows that will be highly controversial. This is ready. There is not an ulterior motive. The education bill has not come out of the education committee; both Republicans and Democrats are still trying to reach a consensus. I understand the desire to move to other issues, but I do not see that as making this an inappropriate discussion for the Senate. I might add that the neighbor of the Senator, Senator Robert Torricelli, is the principal cosponsor. I have enjoyed, as well, working with the Senator from New York.”