Lee Metcalf: “Republicans have a message for the President: ``Don't shut down the government, Mr. President. Don't shut down the…”

“Republicans have a message for the President: ``Don't shut down the government, Mr. President. Don't shut down the government as a way to divert attention from the ethical problems now plaguing the White House.'' The differences between Congress and the White House are not large. The President wants to spend more money on education bureaucrats in Washington. Republicans want to spend the money on the classrooms. Surely a compromise can be reached and the government can continue to operate. We disagree about the approach but we do not disagree about the shared goal of improved education. As a former teacher, I know that local control of schools is absolutely essential. We do understand the political reality that the President faces which forces him to support more Federal education programs, more bureaucrats at the Department of Education and more Federal control over local schools. Our message is simple: ``Don't shut down the government. Work with Congress to arrive at a satisfactory compromise. Don't shut down the government, Mr. President.''”