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Ken Salazar on Education

Democratic Jr Senator (CO)

 


More scholarships for college

Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com , Aug 11, 2004

Strongly supports public education

I strongly support public education, from early childhood education through high school and on through our colleges and universities. Quality education produces informed citizens and qualified workers. Our high school and college graduates form the backbone of our democracy, our free-enterprise system, and our all-volunteer armed forces.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com , Aug 11, 2004

Expand early childhood and after school programs

I support setting high standards for our kids, but we must provide the resources to our teachers and schools to meet them. We should not punish struggling schools or students; rather, we must provide the support necessary to insure success. We must expand our commitment to early childhood and after school programs, like Boys and Girls Clubs.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com , Mar 10, 2004

Ensure higher education is affordable and accessible

We must strengthen our commitment to higher education, at our universities, community colleges, trade schools and other places of learning. And we must make sure that higher education is affordable and accessible to all.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com , Mar 10, 2004

Make sure students can skip Pledge if they so choose

In a letter to legislative leaders, Attorney General Ken Salazar urged an amendments to clarify the ability of pupils to not participate in the recitation of the Pledge if they do not wish to do so. Salazar believes the new language will most likely satisfy concerns the federal Court’s concerns on compelling recitation of the pledge.

[Salazar said in the letter], “I understand the desired goal is to have the Pledge recited each day. However, the federal constitution prohibits the government from compelling speech. To reconcile these two matters, we made recommendations for changes regarding HB 04-1002 concerning the Pledge of Allegiance. Those recommendations were adopted by the House State Affairs Committee. I believe those amendments will most likely satisfy the Court’s concerns on compelling recitation of the Pledge. I would therefore urge legislators to support the amendments.“

Source: Attorney General’s office News Release, “Pledge” , Jan 14, 2004

Promoted Salazar-Spence school voucher proposal

Salazar announced that he would support a school voucher bill sponsored by Republican State Rep. Nancy Spence of Centennial, who promptly renamed her proposal the “Salazar-Spence” bill. Under Spence’s proposal, no more than 500 students in any school district could receive vouchers, and admission would be limited to low-income students who received failing scores on the CSAP standardized test given to all Colorado public school students The proposal has the support of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, which has traditionally opposed voucher measures.

In signing onto a limited voucher program he is showing independence from the traditional Democratic Party position -- what they call in politics a “Sister Souljah moment” -- without going so far that his supporters would feel sold out.

Source: Political State Report , Feb 23, 2003

Encourage character education curriculum in schools

    On Attorney General Ken Salazar’s legislative agenda and priorities for consideration by the 2001 General Assembly: Safe Schools & Youth Violence Prevention
  1. Bullying. Add provisions to the CO Safe Schools Act to bully-proof schools.
  2. Character Education. Encourage character education curriculum in schools.
    Source: Attorney General’s News Release, “Legislative Priorities” , Jan 4, 2001

    Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects.

    Vote on the passage of the bill, the American Competitiveness Scholarship Act, the omnibus appropriations bill for the Departments of Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor. Pres. Bush then vetoed the Bill.

    Proponents support voting YES because:

    Rep. OBEY: This bill, more than any other, determines how willing we are to make the investment necessary to assure the future strength of this country and its working families. The President has chosen to cut the investments in this bill by more than $7.5 billion in real terms. This bill rejects most of those cuts.

    Opponents recommend voting NO because:

    Rep. LEWIS: This bill reflects a fundamental difference in opinion on the level of funding necessary to support the Federal Government's role in education, health and workforce programs. The bill is $10.2 billion over the President's budget request. While many of these programs are popular on both sides of the aisle, this bill contains what can rightly be considered lower priority and duplicative programs. For example, this legislation continues three different programs that deal with violence prevention. An omnibus bill is absolutely the wrong and fiscally reckless approach to completing this year's work. It would negate any semblance of fiscal discipline demonstrated by this body in recent years.

    Veto message from President Bush:

    This bill spends too much. It exceeds [by $10.2 billion] the reasonable and responsible levels for discretionary spending that I proposed to balance the budget by 2012. This bill continues to fund 56 programs that I proposed to terminate because they are duplicative, narrowly focused, or not producing results. This bill does not sufficiently fund programs that are delivering positive outcomes. This bill has too many earmarks--more than 2,200 earmarks totaling nearly $1 billion. I urge the Congress to send me a fiscally responsible bill that sets priorities.

    Reference: American Competitiveness Scholarship Act; Bill H.R. 3043 ; vote number 2007-391 on Oct 23, 2007

    Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers".

    To increase appropriations for after-school programs through 21st century community learning centers. Voting YES would increase funding by $51.9 million for after school programs run by the 21st century community learning centers and would decrease funding by $51.9 million for salaries and expenses in the Department of Labor.
    Reference: Amendment to Agencies Appropriations Act; Bill S Amdt 2287 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-279 on Oct 27, 2005

    Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies.

    To provide an additional $5 billion for title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Voting YES would provide:
    • $2.5 billion for targeting grants to local educational agencies
    • $2.5 billion for education finance incentive grants
    Reference: Elementary and Secondary Education Amendment; Bill S Amdt 2275 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-269 on Oct 26, 2005

    Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education.

    Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that would adjust education funding while still reducing the deficit by $5.4 billion. A YES vote would:
    • Restore education program cuts slated for vocational education, adult education, GEAR UP, and TRIO.
    • Increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $4,500 immediately.
    • Increases future math and science teacher student loan forgiveness to $23,000.
    • Pay for the education funding by closing $10.8 billion in corporate tax loopholes.
    Reference: Kennedy amendment relative to education funding; Bill S AMDT 177 to S Con Res 18 ; vote number 2005-68 on Mar 17, 2005

    Other candidates on Education: Ken Salazar on other issues:
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    Harry_S_TrumanHarry S Truman(D,1945-1953)

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    Page last updated: Oct 27, 2021