Political Quotes

“let me just address a few issues raised by my friends from the other side. First of all, this bill is already fully loaded. This has given a new meaning to that term, it will pass here and it will be whittled down in conference, but the President has already offered, I think, to veto 7 appropriation bills as they have come through this year. I do not think that means that we stop under the threat every time that he raises it. My friend has raised the issue of fairness because this only applies to 3,000 scholarship students who can use the money, I might add, not just to go to private school but for tutors, for computers, for other items they may not be able to receive through the District of Columbia public school system. But what is fairness? No member of Congress, the President's kids, the Vice President's kids will attend the public schools in the District of Columbia. Fairness is giving to the poorest of the poor the same opportunities that our kids have. That is what fairness is. Not trying to equate 78,000 people and treat them all equally in a system right now that has the highest dropout rate in the country. Finally, I just add, the schools have not opened on time for the last four years. We are putting more money in the public school system. It is our hope that it will help.”