Judd Gregg: “I simply point out, this amendment is one of a series of amendments that the Senator from Minnesota is proposing to deal…”

“I simply point out, this amendment is one of a series of amendments that the Senator from Minnesota is proposing to deal with testing. And the Senator from Minnesota has never been shy--he is never shy on anything--he has certainly not been retiring or shy in his opposition to the testing regime in this bill. The testing regime in this bill is the core of the bill. The President has suggested that if we are going to have effective accountability in this country, we must have an effective evaluation of what children are being taught and what they are learning by grades so we don't leave children behind. He suggests that be disaggregated so there is no group that will be left out or normed in and overlooked. So testing is critical to this bill. This is not the most egregious amendment the Senator from Minnesota has proposed in this area. No. In fact, in the spirit of cooperation, I suggested we simply take it. But the Senator from Minnesota decided he wanted a vote. So I think it should be openly debated because the amendment has some serious problems down the road, unless it is fixed. The reason I was willing to take it is because I assumed it would be fixed in conference. It will be a problem for the testing regime.”