Kenny Hulshof: “I certainly hope that this interest in fiscal discipline remains as we really grapple with these appropriations bills…”

“I certainly hope that this interest in fiscal discipline remains as we really grapple with these appropriations bills, the challenge that remains ahead of us over the next weeks. Mr. Speaker, the idea is that we want to encourage families to put aside money for their children's education expenses. It was good policy a year ago. It is not good politics, it is just good policy to help those children achieve the American dream. Everybody has talked about their children. My daughter, who is almost 3, one on the way in December, and as we think of providing the best education possible for all of our children, is it not prudent to put aside that money at the earliest possible time, certainly as we see the cost of tuition continue to go up? If Congress fails to act, Mr. Speaker, here are the provisions that we will lose come January 1 of 2011. Instead of the annual contribution limit to an education account being $2,000 a year, it would revert to $500. Instead of expanding these education account benefits to all kids who go to any type of school, we would be simply focused on those of college education and forgetting about those educational expenses for special needs kids or educational expenses for those in kindergarten through elementary school and secondary education.”