Paul Coverdell: “for the last hour we have heard from myself and others, Senator Torricelli, about the massive benefits that would come…”

“for the last hour we have heard from myself and others, Senator Torricelli, about the massive benefits that would come to American families if we enact and make possible the tool of an education savings account for families to use for their children, no matter where they go to school, public, private, home, whether it is kindergarten through college or after if the student is disabled. Anybody watching this just has to wonder, well, why in the world are we in a filibuster? How can an idea like this be thwarted, tacks thrown on the road in front of it? Why are we in a filibuster? Who would oppose it? It has been described as a win-win situation. As I said, any child, in any condition, and any family dealing with those conditions can benefit. So why the opposition? Well, they said, the money is going to get in somebody's hands who does not need it. They are too wealthy. We have heard that around here for the last quarter of a century. I just want to remind everybody that the criteria that governs this savings account is identical, the same, no deviation from the one the President signed at the White House last year. Both sides of the aisle--Republicans, Democrats; House, Senate and President--have all sanctioned, certified, that we should have a savings account for college costs. We said the number will be $500 per year. Then we means tested it to make sure that it was pushed into middle income and down.…”