Political Quotes

“If the average American had a kid in almost any public school today, what do you believe she would say if someone advertised free money for scholarships to attend private or religious schools? How about you colleagues? If you are like most Americans, you believe that private schools are more selective, have better classes in some important subjects, have a better teacher/student ratio. Why not apply? Private certainly have better reputations in many parts of the country. Free money for such schools would probably get many takers if advertised anywhere in this country among any group. Last year, some District of Columbia ministers were asked to sign on to a letter to support free scholarships--that is how it was called-- for D.C. kids. They, too, jumped at the opportunity. When they found out that these scholarships were, in fact, publicly funded vouchers, which take taxpayer dollars away from public schools, they felt deceived, had a press conference, and took their names off of the letter and off of the campaign. In public meetings around the District, I have raised this subject regularly with my constituents who have now applied in numbers over 7,000 for some free scholarship money. Who in America would not? They are no different, however, from the 69 percent of Americans who say that they do not want public money to go to vouchers for private schools. In the District, 89 percent have voted against private school vouchers.”