Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I very briefly want to say that much of the debate over the last several weeks has been on how we can best improve the system, modernize the system, reform the system, and consolidate, streamline local control, and have more accountability. That is one element. The other element that we keep referring to is the whole element of money, of how many Federal dollars should be injected. This particular amendment really asks a much different question than those two. Basically it says, given the dollars that are out there-- whatever they might be--how can we best invest those and reform the system to accomplish what we all want to do. And that is to leave no child behind. I say that only because so many of the amendments have to do with new dollars or new programs. This really puts that aside and says, given whatever dollars we are going to allocate, how can we best invest those specifically as they apply to title I or low-income students? I believe the principle in this amendment is that the money we, as a Congress, intend to invest in title I, or intend to invest in low-income students, needs to get there--or needs to get close--and that in spite of good intentions since the 1995 reform--and going back to 1965--the money has not arrived.”