Thomas Daschle: “I was struck by the extraordinary statement made by the administration last week in a statement of administration…”

“I was struck by the extraordinary statement made by the administration last week in a statement of administration policy. Last week it said we know there is approximately $21 billion in here for education and for those going to college. The NIH funding is about $28 billion. This bill will affect every school district in America. It will affect children under title I and disabled children under IDEA. It will affect afterschool programs, preschool programs, and school lunch. It will affect virtually every aspect of education in America. And the President said he is going to veto this legislation if we overturn the regulation on overtime. What kind of message does that send to America and to those who heard this President say over the course of his time in the White House that education is important to him, and that education is a special priority to him? Apparently, it is not as much of a priority as it is to ensure that we don't pass an amendment protecting workers from losing their earned overtime.”