Political Quotes

“The point I end with, what we are hearing today is to have a new program put on the outside to address a population that we know is important. Look at the complexity of this on this chart, which my staff jokingly calls the spiderweb chart. Look at the 15 different programs for teachers. What the other side wants to do is put another program out there. Our argument is to pass a simple program--that allows innovation; it has bipartisan support--instead of introducing a new program. The appropriate debate here is the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I plead with my colleagues to pull back on all of these amendments, pass Ed-Flex, vote in favor of cloture today so we can address a bill that has bipartisan support, that is supported by all 50 Governors, supported by the President of the United States, the Department of Education, and, I bet, 99 U.S. Senators. I yield the floor.”