Political Quotes

“Frankly, my own criticism of her proposal is that I think it is too modest in relationship to the challenge that we face as a Nation. As she has pointed out, our own General Accounting Office has indicated that there is a need in this Nation to bring existing schools up to a standard of basic safety, health, and educational adequacy of over $100 billion. What is not included in that number, Mr. President, is what is required to build the new classrooms for the exploding student population. If I could use my own State as an example, Mr. President. Last year we had over 55,000 new students enrolled at the public schools in the State of Florida. That number will continue, in terms of angle rate of growth, for the foreseeable future. Similar numbers are true in States across America, as the baby boom population is now having babies and those babies are reaching school age. So we have a crisis not only in terms of rebuilding our older schools, but also in assuring new schools in order to avoid overcrowded classrooms.”