Jeff Bingaman: “One change that has occurred here in Washington in the time I have been here--and it was very clear last night when I…”

“One change that has occurred here in Washington in the time I have been here--and it was very clear last night when I listened to the President--is that we now have a consensus; at least a majority agree that education is a national responsibility as well as a State and local responsibility. I can remember very recently--and you still hear people say this, but not many anymore--but I can remember when a substantial number of people used to say education is not an appropriate issue for the Federal Government to concern itself with. Clearly, it is a great concern for the people I represent in New Mexico, and it is a great concern for working families all over this country; but ``it should not be a concern for people who come to Washington to make the laws or to appropriate funds or to allocate tax dollars because this is not a national responsibility.'' That was the argument that we always heard. I think one of the great legacies that this President will leave and this Congress will leave is that there is a change in that attitude.”