Political Quotes

“First of all, I am proud to say that Pennsylvania was ahead of the Federal Government when it came to IDEA. However, that too was a court decision, before they got around to making that decision on the Federal level. But for 20 years I sat in the minority asking the majority both in the Committee on Education and Labor and on the Committee on the Budget along with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) to please fund the 40 percent promised. We've got to make sure we understand we are talking about the 40 percent of excess costs. We are not talking about 40 percent of the costs for special education. We are talking about 40 percent of the excess costs to educate a special education student in relationship to a student in general education. It is the only curriculum mandate from the Federal level. It is important that everybody out there listening understands that, because we get blamed for every curriculum problem that they may have in a local district. The only federal mandate as far as curriculum is concerned is special education. I told the President on several occasions that if he wants a legacy-- if he wants a positive legacy in education--the way to get it is to make sure that he works with us to fully fund that 40 percent of excess costs.”