Political Quotes

“I understand the desires of the proponents of this amendment, and I recognize the validity of taking a look at the comparisons of the private versus public school system. However, I must oppose the amendment at this time. First of all, and probably foremost, we have gone out of our way to ensure that we do not load this bill down with demonstration programs. This will be the first one which will be added which would authorize funds to start demonstration projects before we have had an opportunity to implement the bill and to look at the planning process and get the advice of the States. There is no prohibition right now for States to do anything-- they can have private school choice. Again, I reiterate that my main concern here is that the school choice amendment which is being offered is the only and the first of what could prove to be many, if we start allowing demonstration-type projects to be offered to what is designed to be a planning bill to provide funds for the States to plan. There is no prohibition under the law or any Federal prohibitions to the States or the local Governments from sending or having their own programs on demonstrating the applicability or the desirability of school choice.”