Mary Landrieu

I think that there are many opportunities still available for the school system to become more efficient, more responsive, more inclusive, stronger, within its current budget constraints.

What is very notable about this is that these earnings were not taxed earnings, but earnings earned in the city using city services.

I think that with safeguards going in and understanding what is going to be needed is important.

This city is the number one target for terrorists

Part of it, Mr. Chairman, is driven by the fact that the city is here, living, co-existing in a way with the Federal Government.

There is still a structural imbalance.

I think it is clear to most that no matter how efficient the District is, no matter how competent the leadership of the city is--and I think we have very competent leadership--that there is still a difference between the capacity of the…

I am looking forward, Mr. Chairman, to working with you to explore the options that are before us for the benefits of the residents.

I do want to say to Mayor Williams and to our Council, that the progress the District has made is indisputable.

But, Mr. Chairman, this could happen again, and when it happens again it will not happen suddenly.

Well, I would say the question for the community is, having been shown success which you all are showing against the odds, extraordinary success, how do we as a community reward your success.

I mean, you can either pay for it up front, residential in school, or you can pay $50,000 a year for residence in prison.

We are vigorously pursuing this incubator concept and we want to work with the mayor's office, which has given tremendous leadership.

I will tell you from my political experience with the majority of independent, non-parochial public schools, the average of tuitions is about $15,000 to $20,000.

I give support to Thurgood Marshall and SEED, and so does the chairman, and attention and support to Mr. Domenici's school because what you are doing is pretty terrific and it is working and it is showing us the way.

Thank you all. As I said as you all sat down, I again just congratulate you for your really extraordinary, extraordinary efforts.

I really do want to thank all of you for what you are doing.

It is just not moving quickly enough for all of us, and so part of this meeting today is to grasp what is working.

We need to create venture capital funding.

I just want to say a general thank you for the extraordinary work that each of you has done against great odds.

Does anybody have an idea--maybe, Ms. Baker, you could testify on this because it seems like we could--one of the great accomplishments of this hearing, Mr. Chairman, would be if we could explore with you all, the experts, a streamlined…

And a mere $4.5 million or even 6 or 7 million dollars won't do. Sometimes, it is a $20 million price tag, or sometimes more than that?

How many are on that list? Does anybody know?

To follow up on the facilities, do we have a comprehensive list of school buildings...

I would like to receive some testimony from some of the bankers, not at this meeting, Mr. Chairman, but perhaps in writing.