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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2003

News Release

NEA: Misplaced Priorities
and Political Tactics
Steal D.C. Voucher Vote 

Razor-thin passage in House
is won on politics, not good policy for children

Washington, D.C. - The National Education Association today strongly criticized the political maneuvering of Congressional leaders in the narrow passage of a voucher plan for the District of Columbia Public Schools.

The $10 million voucher plan passed by a single vote after the Republican leadership extended official voting time by a half-hour.

The margins on Congressional voucher votes have narrowed over the years as more lawmakers recognize the hypocrisy of placing mandates on public schools while diverting resources to private schools.

"The House leadership demonstrated a poor display of democracy by allowing the clock to keep ticking on the vote in order to contrive the passage of a voucher scheme requiring an investment of scarce dollars that our children and public education cannot afford," said Reg Weaver, NEA president.

The House leadership was not the only hand in Tuesday's disappointing vote.  A number of Members who missed the vote had been on record opposing this legislation. 

Weaver expressed his keen disappointment in their misplaced priorities.  "Our lawmakers speak boldly of 'leaving no child behind,' but then fail to deliver on that promise by shortchanging public schools," Weaver said.

"We must begin to hold Congress accountable for failing to honor its commitments," Weaver said. "When the Senate's turn comes to vote on vouchers, we ask Senators to be there when it counts and to consider giving District of Columbia schoolchildren what they really need to succeed in their classrooms: smaller class sizes, quality teaching, and up-to-date books and technology."

NEA also praised the 14 Republican Members who held firm against their party's leadership and chose to do the right thing for D.C. children by voting against the proposal. 

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.