Richard K. Armey: “I said there were two great beneficiaries of school choice. The first institutional beneficiary is public schools…”

“I said there were two great beneficiaries of school choice. The first institutional beneficiary is public schools, because it is because of school choice that public schools find the incentive to improve themselves. We know that works. We saw it work in Albany, New York, when Virginia Gilder, the philanthropist, found the worst school in the city, offered $2,000 scholarships to the parents of each child to move their child to a school of their choice. One-sixth of the parents took that offer up. They moved their children. It so startled the school district that, as The Washington Post reported, the school board ousted the principal, brought in nine new teachers, added two assistant principals, invested in books, equipment, and teacher training after years of neglect. Madam Speaker, competition works. We all agreed we should break up AT&T because if there were a monopoly on the block it would not be innovative or responsive, it would not meet the needs of the consumers. Why would Members think a public monopoly is any more benevolent than a private monopoly? The heart lies with the children. And let me tell my colleagues, I know these kids, I spend time with these kids.”