William L. Clay: “I am appalled at the arrogant and dictatorial way that this bill has been brought to the floor. I urge my colleagues to…”

“I am appalled at the arrogant and dictatorial way that this bill has been brought to the floor. I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and defeat this rule. The majority party has run roughshod over the entire democratic process. A previous Republican speaker this morning said that this is not a vote on vouchers, but it is a vote to permit debate on the issue of vouchers. How misleading. This rule continues that farce. This bill has never had a public hearing in either the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families or on the full Committee on Education and the Workforce. This bill has never been marked up by the committee. There was no debate, no discussion, no public involvement, no give-and-take. Clearly, Madam Speaker, the doors of democracy have been slammed shut. And to further stifle legitimate debate on the school voucher issue, the majority proposes, through this rule, to deny all Members of Congress the right to address this bill through a fair amendment process. If ever an issue needed the benefit of public discussion, of debate and of sunshine, it is this voucher issue. As we look at the many debates surrounding strategies to improve elementary and secondary education, no issue is more contentious, no issue arouses more passion, and no issue divides us more than these proposals to take funds from public schools and give them to private schools in the form of vouchers. It would be a travesty if this rule passes.”