Political Quotes

“Children with special needs, with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and other problems are going to have to be given every opportunity to learn and be productive members of society. That is something Congress and the Federal Government said to the local school districts. Yet we have not provided them the opportunity to do it. We do not want to say to school districts: This is your responsibility; you figure out how to pay for it. In some States, school districts have to move children great distances to find that special learning situation and environment where they can prosper, and at great expense. That is money taken out of the regular classrooms, from the students and teachers. We need to make sure there is quality education for all kids. The Bush administration says it is a good mandate. But if they want to spend additional money for tax cuts, we can't see it. They want to put $600 billion more into tax cuts primarily for wealthy Americans and not for education, for teachers, for students, and particularly for children with special needs.”