Topics in the News: Vouchers
Elizabeth Warren on Vouchers:
(Welfare & Poverty May 4, 2021)
Illusory that market will ensure enough affordable housing
The federal government has changed it's approach to housing. From the 1930's to the 1970's, The US government built millions of housing units, mostly built for families of modest means. By increasing the housing supply, prices stayed lower for all
renters and buyers, particularly for those with moderate incomes. But in the late 1970's, federal policy changed, shifting to rental assistance that relied on giving cash or vouchers to renters, and then turning them loose to find their own housing.
The unspoken premise was that "the market" would respond to the shortages and build enough housing units to solve the problem. In 1999 Congress passed a law known as the Faircloth Amendment, requiring that not a single new unit of public
housing could be built unless an existing unit of public housing was destroyed or sold to a private party. The magical market that would provide housing for everyone turned out to be an illusion.
Click for Elizabeth Warren on other issues.
Source: Persist, by Elizabeth Warren, p.148-149
Elizabeth Warren on Vouchers:
(Welfare & Poverty May 4, 2021)
Illusory that market will ensure enough affordable housing
The federal government has changed its approach to housing. From the 1930's to the 1970's, The US government built millions of housing units, mostly built for families of modest means. By increasing the housing supply, prices stayed lower for all
renters and buyers, particularly for those with moderate incomes. But in the late 1970's, federal policy changed, shifting to rental assistance that relied on giving cash or vouchers to renters, and then turning them loose to find their own housing.
The unspoken premise was that, "the market" would respond to the shortages and build enough housing units to solve the problem.In 1999 Congress passed a law known as the Faircloth Amendment, requiring that not a single new unit of public housing
could be built unless an existing unit of public housing was destroyed or sold to a private party. The magical market that would provide housing for everyone turned out to be an illusion.
Click for Elizabeth Warren on other issues.
Source: Persist, by Elizabeth Warren, p.148-149
John Hickenlooper on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 10, 2020)
Opposes vouchers for private or religious schools
Q: Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools?John Hickenlooper: No. Supports parents selecting the best schools, but "would not support the use of publicly funded vouchers for private or religious school education."
Corey Gardner: Yes. Filed a Supreme Court brief supporting the use of public funds to pay for educating children in private religious schools.
Click for John Hickenlooper on other issues.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Mike Pence on Vouchers:
(Education Sep 22, 2020)
Budget proposes more money for private school vouchers
["Pence has suggested an increase in school funding in his budget proposal. But, there is a catch: Most of that would go to private school vouchers and charter schools. Reported The Associated Press, 'It would give $1,500 more per student for charter sch
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Trump Research Book on Mike Pence
Joe Biden on Vouchers:
(Civil Rights Jul 21, 2020)
Require suburbs to open up to low-income housing
The ex-veep wants to ramp up an Obama-era scheme called Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing that barely got underway before President Trump took office. Obama's Department of Housing and Urban Development floated a requirement for "balanced housing"
in every suburb. "Balanced" meant affordable even for people who need federal vouchers. Towns had to make it possible for low-income minorities to choose suburban living and provide "adequate support to make their choices possible."
Click for Joe Biden on other issues.
Source: New York Post on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Kirsten Gillibrand on Vouchers:
(Government Reform May 1, 2019)
Public financing of elections through voter choice
Under Gillibrand's plan, every eligible voter could register for vouchers to donate up to $100 in a primary election and $100 in a general election each cycle, either all at once or in $10 increments to one or more candidates over time.
Each participant would get a separate $200 pool for House, Senate and presidential contests for a total maximum donation of $600 for those federal offices.
To be eligible to receive "Democracy Dollars," a candidate would have to voluntarily agree to forgo any contributions larger than $200 per donor.
The campaign didn't provide an estimate of the total cost of the plan, but said it would pay for the voucher program by limiting a corporate deduction for executive compensation, which it estimates would raise $60 billion over 10 years.
Click for Kirsten Gillibrand on other issues.
Source: NBC News, "Democracy Dollars," on 2020 Democratic primary
Ted Cruz on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 9, 2018)
Private school vouchers is civil rights issue of our time
Q: Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?Ted Cruz (R): Yes. Called "civil rights issue of our time." Introduced bill to allow tax deduction for costs of private & religious schools.
Beto O'Rourke (D):
No. It funnels public school $ into private schools. "Ted Cruz's private school give-away will cost taxpayers $500 million to subsidize wealthy."
Click for Ted Cruz on other issues.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Beto O`Rourke on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 9, 2018)
Vouchers funnel public school $ into private schools
Q: Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?Ted Cruz (R): Yes. Called "civil rights issue of our time." Introduced bill to allow tax deduction for costs of private & religious schools.
Beto O'Rourke (D):
No. It funnels public school $ into private schools. "Ted Cruz's private school give-away will cost taxpayers $500 million to subsidize wealthy."
Click for Beto O`Rourke on other issues.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Texas Senate race
Ron DeSantis on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 9, 2018)
Expand both charters & vouchers
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?Ron DeSantis (R): No statements found on funding, but prefers setting policy at local level.
Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Proposes a $1 billion "Fair Share" investment in public schools
covered by increasing state's corporate tax rate & legalizing & taxing marijuana.
Q: Education: Support the expansion of charter schools or help parents send their children to private schools with public money?
Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. Expand both charters & vouchers. Let federal dollars follow students to any schools their families choose.
Andrew Gillum (D): No. Against vouchers & "unaccountable, for-profit charter schools who use public dollars to enrich their executives."
Click for Ron DeSantis on other issues.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Arvin Vohra on Vouchers:
(Education Mar 30, 2018)
Vouchers are just food stamps for education
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Vouchers for school choice"?A: Strongly oppose. This is just replacing one type of welfare (government schools) with another type of welfare (vouchers). Vouchers are just food stamps for education.
It is the parent's responsibility to provide education, not If it's not your kid, it's not your responsibility. If you can't afford to pay for education, and can't be bothered to learn to homeschool, don't have kids.
Click for Arvin Vohra on other issues.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maryland Senate candidate
Arvin Vohra on Vouchers:
(Tax Reform Mar 30, 2018)
End welfare & other programs, and then abolish income tax
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Higher taxes on the wealthy"?A: Strongly oppose. I support ending all welfare, including government schools, charter schools, vouchers,
and other forms of educational welfare, and abolishing the income tax entirely. If elected, I will sponsor legislation to dismantle the welfare state and cut taxes accordingly.
Click for Arvin Vohra on other issues.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maryland Senate candidate
Stacey Abrams on Vouchers:
(Education Sep 1, 2017)
No money for school vouchers
Public education is the beating heart of our state and a fundamental obligation. As Minority Leader, Stacey advocated for fully-funded quality public education, demanded comprehensive support for struggling schools
and opposed attempts to privatize our public schools. Georgia leaders cannot stand up for public education and simultaneously vote for private vouchers; diversion of funds to private schools undermines our government's responsibility.
Click for Stacey Abrams on other issues.
Source: 2018 Georgia Gubernatorial website StaceyAbrams.com
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 8, 2016)
Voted against vouchers; but public school choice ok
Q: Do you agree that free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.Clinton: Does not like voucher programs. While she does support school choice as it exists as a
form of public education, Clinton has always been opposed to allowing public funds to be used toward private and religious schools. As a New York Senator, Hillary Clinton voted against voucher programs in the state in 2001.
Stein: "Charter schools are not better than public schools--and in many cases they are far worse. They cherry-pick their students so they can show better test scores. The treasure of our public schools system has been assaulted by the process of
privatization."
Trump: "We've got to bring on the competition--open the schoolhouse doors. Education reformers call this school choice, charter schools, vouchers, even opportunity scholarships. I call it competition--the American way."
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: 2016 AFA Action iVoterGuide on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Donald Trump on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 8, 2016)
Call them vouchers or scholarships; I call it competition
Q: Do you agree that free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students?Trump: "Our public schools are capable of providing a more competitive product than they do today.
Look at some of the high school tests from earlier in this century and you'll wonder if they weren't college-level tests. And we've got to bring on the competition -open the schoolhouse doors and let parents choose the best school for their children.
Education reformers call this school choice, charter schools, vouchers, even opportunity scholarships. I call it competition--the American way."
Clinton: Does not like voucher programs. While she does support school choice as it exists as a
form of public education, Clinton has always been opposed to allowing public funds to be used toward private and religious schools. As a New York Senator, Hillary Clinton voted against voucher programs in the state in 2001.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: 2016 AFA Action iVoterGuide on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Bernie Sanders on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 1, 2016)
No privatization; no vouchers; charters only with standards
Q: What are your views on private school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and charter schools?BS: I am strongly opposed to any voucher system that would re-direct public education dollars to private schools, including through the use of tax credits.
In addition, I believe charter schools should be held to the same standards of transparency as public schools, and that these standards should also apply to the non-profit and for-profit entities that organize charter schools.
Q: What are your views on the privatization and contracting out of public services, including school services?
BS: I am strongly opposed to the outsourcing and privatization of public services.
The reality is that many private contractors provide jobs with low pay and no benefits with little or no training. In the long-term, in most instances, privatization leads to poor service, high turnover, and an overall increase in taxpayer dollars.
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: American Federation of Teachers candidate questionnaire
Mike Pence on Vouchers:
(Education Jul 15, 2016)
Pro-voucher so parents decide how to educate their kids
Each year since his election, Pence has spoken at an annual school choice rally, affirming his support for publicly funded vouchers to pay private school tuition for low- & middle-income families and for charter schools. "Children in this state ought to
be afforded opportunities for quality education. Those decisions should be made in the best interests of our kids, and those decisions should be made by parents." Pence has pushed to expand charter schools & vouchers, with some legislative wins in 2015.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: ChalkBeat.org on 2016 Indiana gubernatorial race
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Principles & Values Jan 30, 2016)
Agrees with Bernie on vouchers, EPA, taxes, amnesty & voting
Where do Bernie and Hillary agree on the issues? Our VoteMatch theory says that a moderate liberal and a hard-core liberal should agree on most issues but differ in fervency; we point out exactly that difference in many places in our analysis in each
chapter. They entirely agree on:- Education: both agree: no vouchers; restricted charters.
- Environmentalism: both would strengthen the EPA.
- Social Security; both oppose any weakening or privatization.
-
Tax Reform: both would increase taxes on the wealthy to help the working class and middle class.
- Voting rights: both would remove voter ID restrictions,
and on the campaign finance side, both would overturn Citizens United.
- Immigration: both favor a pathway to citizenship that their opponents would call "amnesty."
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Bernie vs. Hillary On The Issues, by Jesse Gordon
Donald Trump on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 3, 2015)
Let schools compete: charters, vouchers, and magnets
Competition is why I'm very much in favor of school choice. Let schools compete for kids. I guarantee that if you forced schools to get better or close because parents didn't want to enroll their kids there, they would get better. Those schools that
weren't good enough to attract students would close, and that's a good thing.For two decades I've been urging politicians to open the schoolhouse doors and let parents decide which schools are best for their children. Professional educators look to
claim that doing so would be the end of good public schools. Better charter or magnet schools would drain the top kids out of that system, or hurt the morale of those left behind. Suddenly, the excellence that comes from competition is being criticized.
Click for Donald Trump on other issues.
Source: Crippled America, by Donald Trump, p. 53-4
Bernie Sanders on Vouchers:
(Education Sep 5, 2015)
Vouchers redirect public education dollar to private schools
School voucher programs are generally funded by state governments and offer parents reimbursements for the amount that it would cost to educate their children in public school to be used towards private school tuition. Proponents of the voucher system
argue that they offer low-income families quality school choices, while critics argue that vouchers funnel public funds into private and religious institutions.The two largest teachers unions both strongly oppose vouchers. The AFT labeled them an
attempt "to undermine or otherwise diminish the role of public education in our society." The NEA "opposes school vouchers because they divert essential resources from public schools to private and religious schools, while offering no real 'choice' for
the overwhelming majority of students."
Like the two largest teachers unions in the country, Bernie is "strongly opposed to any voucher system that would re-direct public education dollars to private schools, including through the use of tax credits."
Click for Bernie Sanders on other issues.
Source: 2016 grassroots campaign website FeelTheBern.org, "Issues"
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Apr 23, 2015)
Supports public school system: charters but not vouchers
- Vouchers: "I'll tell you why I won't support vouchers. Number one, I don't think they're constitutional. But number two,
I don't see how you would implement them without having a lot of people get vouchers for schools that would be teaching things antithetical to American values."
- Charter schools: "I actually do believe in charter schools."
-
Public education: "The public school system has been,
I believe, second to the Constitution, the most important institution in making America the great country that we have been over the last 200 plus years."
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Fordham Institute EduWatch 2016 by Brandon White
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Apr 12, 2015)
Vouchers aren't constitutional; charter schools are ok
CLINTON: I'll tell you why I won't support vouchers. Number one, I don't think they're constitutional. But number two,
I don't see how you would implement them without having a lot of people get vouchers for schools that would be teaching things antithetical to American values. I actually do believe in charter schools.
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Forbes Magazine "2016 Candidates Want You to Know" series
Rand Paul on Vouchers:
(Education Apr 7, 2015)
Transfer $100B spent on federal DOE to states & local
Education historically was a state and local subject. We spend about 100 billion dollars on the Department of Education each year and that's been going on since 1980. I'm not so sure we're better off than we were before. Well, what I would do is I would
have it spent on the state and local level to allow innovation to occur. I propose that we allow school charters, school choice, vouchers, competition. Competition breeds excellence and encourages innovation. And boy we really need it, we need innovation
Click for Rand Paul on other issues.
Source: Forbes Magazine "2016 Candidates Want You to Know" series
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Abortion Dec 10, 2014)
Issues where Jeb Bush disagrees with Hillary
Where do Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton disagree on the issues? They do agree on some things, but they disagree on the core Democrat-versus-Republican list: Issue | Jeb | Hillary |
---|
Abortion |
Pro-life | Pro-choice |
---|
Affirmative action | Opposes quotas | Supports equal pay |
---|
Gay marriage | Opposes | Previously opposed; now supports |
---|
School vouchers |
Supports along with Common Core | Opposes but charters ok |
---|
ObamaCare | Repeal | Expand |
---|
Death penalty | Supports |
Opposes |
---|
Second Amendment rights | Supports concealed carry | Ban assault weapons |
---|
Campaign finance reform | No limits but full disclosure | Ban soft money |
---|
Click for Hillary Clinton on other issues.
Source: Jeb vs. Hillary On The Issues, by Jesse Gordon, pp. 227-8
Elizabeth Warren on Vouchers:
(Health Care Nov 18, 2014)
No Medicare vouchers and no privatization
Too many have been using scare tactics when it comes to Social Security. Social Security can pay 100% of benefits for at least the next twenty years. Instead of taking on special interests, too many politicians have proposed privatizing
Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting it altogether. I will not support privatizing Medicare, turning it into a voucher program, or cutting benefits.
Click for Elizabeth Warren on other issues.
Source: Quotable Elizabeth Warren, by Frank Marshall, p.148
Cory Booker on Vouchers:
(Education Aug 23, 2013)
Supports "Race to the Top" education reform
Booker's major substantive difference with many progressives is on education policy. He is -- like President Obama -- an advocate of the "education reform" movement; he has backed New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's expansion of charter schools and
merit pay for teachers, as well as a form of vouchers for some impoverished areas. He sits on the board of Democrats for Education Reform. During last summer's Democratic convention, Booker spoke at an event hosted by lightning-rod former
D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, who teachers unions see as working to privatize public education and undermine collective bargaining. The school-reform issue is the subject of a major schism in today's Democratic Party;
Obama's "Race to the Top" education initiative, which has encouraged state-level reforms, has infuriated traditional Democratic allies but also drawn support from many party officeholders.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: The Atlantic, "Why Do Liberals Hate Booker," by Molly Ball,
Cory Booker on Vouchers:
(Education Aug 5, 2013)
Supports school voucher proposal, like other Democrats
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone and Rush Holt took some shots at Booker, mostly for his support of a school voucher proposal offered by Gov. Chris Christie. "I very much disagree with Mayor Booker on this. I do not believe that vouchers are the answer,"
Pallone said. "I'm very concerned about how vouchers, which he supports, will take away funding from public schools. I believe in public schools."When Booker responded that he, too, believes in public schools and that he helped bring $100 million in
philanthropic funds into the city's school system, Booker said both Pallone and Holt had voted in favor of the Washington DC Opportunity Scholarship Program--a voucher-like program that gives scholarships to low-income children. "While they're
criticizing me I'd like them both to explain why they voted for the same position I have," Booker said. The vote Booker referenced was actually a much larger appropriations bill that included the program.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: Star-Ledger coverage of 2013 N.J. Senate debate
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Health Care Oct 3, 2012)
I don't think Medicare vouchers are the way to go
ROMNEY: With regards to young people coming along, I've got proposals to make sure Medicare and Social Security are there for them without any question. OBAMA: I think it's important for Governor Romney to present this plan that he says will only
affect folks in the future. And the essence of the plan is that you would turn Medicare into a voucher program. It's called premium support, but it's understood to be a voucher program.
Q: And you don't support that?
OBAMA: I don't.
And let me explain why.
ROMNEY: Again, that's for future people, not for current retirees.
OBAMA: The idea, which was originally presented by Congressman Ryan, your running mate, is that we would give a voucher to seniors and they could go out
in the private marketplace and buy their own health insurance. The problem is that because the voucher wouldn't necessarily keep up with health care inflation, it was estimated that this would cost the average senior about $6,000 a year.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: First Obama-Romney 2012 Presidential debate
Cory Booker on Vouchers:
(Education May 7, 2012)
Supports school vouchers
In ads, Newark Mayor Sharpe James' campaign reinforces the idea that Booker was a media construction who shirked his responsibilities as councilman and was not as ethical as he claimed. James also made substantive policy attacks that
had implicit racial and class ramifications. In a piece criticizing Booker's support of school vouchers, James calls him a Republican, highlights the
fact that he's a privileged child of the suburbs, and labels him a hypocrite. He then concludes by saying that "Booker can't be for real."
Clearly, the James campaign was using a substantive issue to imply that Booker's policies were incongruent with the interests of urban blacks, thus creating a chasm between Booker and the rest of Newark.
Click for Cory Booker on other issues.
Source: The New Black Politician, by Andra Gillespie, p. 77
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Budget & Economy Jan 8, 2012)
Obama economic stances compared to Romney
Do Obama and Romney disagree on school vouchers? (Yes). Do they both like "No Child Left Behind"? (No).
We cite details from Romney's books and speeches, and Obama's, so you can compare them, side-by-side, on issues like these:
Romney vs. Obama on Economic Issues
- Corporation Policy
- Financial Bailout
- Wall Street Reform
- Economic Stimulus
- Trickle-Down Economics
- National Debt
- Balanced Budget
- Campaign Finance Reform
-
Card Check
- Unemployment
- Social Security Privatization
- Trust Fund
- Entitlement Policy
- Tax-and-Spend Policies
- Death Tax
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Paperback: Romney vs. Obama On The Issues
Joe Walsh on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 2, 2010)
Vouchers force competition & provide better education
I've written and spoken about the benefits of charter schools, vouchers and home schooling for years.I firmly believe in school choice and believe that every child should have the choice of attending any school for which he/she qualifies academically.
In areas where kids are given vouchers to attend private schools, the kids who get the vouchers get a better education and increased competition forces the public schools to provide a better education also. It is a win-win situation for all involved.
Click for Joe Walsh on other issues.
Source: 2010 House campaign website, walshforcongress.com, "Issues"
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Health Care Jan 29, 2010)
Medicare is major driver of our long-term liabilities
Pres. OBAMA: The major driver of our long-term liabilities, is Medicare and Medicaid and our health care spending. That's going to be what our children have to worry about. Now, [Rep. Paul Ryan's] approach--if I understand it correctly, would say we're
going to provide vouchers of some sort for current Medicare recipients at the current level.Rep. RYAN: No.
Pres. OBAMA: No?
Rep. RYAN: People 55 and above are grandfathered in.
Pres. OBAMA: But just for future beneficiaries, the basic idea would
be that at some point we hold Medicare cost per recipient constant as a way of making sure that that doesn't go way out of whack, right?
Rep. RYAN: We drew it as a blend of inflation and health inflation. Medicare is a $38 trillion unfunded liability--
it has to be reformed for younger generations because it's going bankrupt. And the premise of our idea is, why not give people the same kind of health care plan we here have in Congress?
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: Obama Q&A at 2010 House Republican retreat in Baltimore
Mike Pence on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 1, 2008)
Eliminate "No Child Left Behind" K-12 testing requirements
Mike Pence indicated support for the following principles regarding education:- Eliminate all federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).
-
Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
-
Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
- Increase funding for the Pell Grant program.
-
Decrease interest rates of Stafford Loans.
- Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
- Require universities to disclose financial relationships with lenders.
Click for Mike Pence on other issues.
Source: Congressional Indiana 2008 Political Courage Test
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 15, 2008)
I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers
McCAIN: Choice and competition amongst schools is one of the key elements that’s already been proven in places in like New Orleans and New York City and other places, where we have charter schools.
We have to be able to give parents the same choice, frankly, that Sen. Obama and Mrs. Obama had and Cindy and I had to send our kids & their kids to the school of their choice.Charter schools aren’t the only answer, but they’re providing competition.
They are providing the kind of competitions that have upgraded both types of schools.
OBAMA: Sen. McCain and I actually agree on charter schools. I doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois despite some reservations from teachers unions.
I think it’s important to foster competition inside the public schools. Where we disagree is on the idea that we can somehow give out vouchers as a way of securing the problems in our education system.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2008 third presidential debate against John McCain
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 15, 2008)
Vouchers don’t solve the problems of our schools
McCAIN: I’m sure you’re aware, Sen. Obama, of the program in the Washington, D.C., school system where vouchers are provided. It’s a thousand and some 9,000 parents asked to be eligible for that.OBAMA: The D.C. school system is in terrible shape, and
it has been for a very long time. And we’ve got a wonderful new superintendent there who’s working very hard with the young mayor.
McCAIN: Who supports vouchers.
OBAMA: Actually, she supports charters.
McCAIN: She supports vouchers, also.
OBAMA:
Even if Sen. McCain were to say that vouchers were the way to go--I disagree with him on this, because the data doesn’t show that it actually solves the problem--the centerpiece of Sen. McCain’s education policy is to increase the voucher program in
D.C. by 2,000 slots. That leaves all of you who live in the other 50 states without an education reform policy from Sen. McCain.
McCAIN: Because there’s not enough vouchers; therefore, we shouldn’t do it, even though it’s working. I got it.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: 2008 third presidential debate against John McCain
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 15, 2008)
FactCheck: McCain for national reforms & also DC vouchers
The Statement:Obama criticized McCain’s education proposals, saying, “The centerpiece of Senator McCain’s education policy is to increase the voucher program in D.C. by 2,000 slots,” Obama said. “That leaves all of you who live in the other
50 states without an education reform policy from Senator McCain.”The Facts:McCain does support expanding what’s called The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. But McCain’s other proposals for education, as detailed on his campaign
Web site, include expanding funding for at least one Head Start center in each state; requiring all federally supported preschools to offer comprehensive teaching in subjects including literacy, math readiness and social skills; and funding to provide
bonuses to teachers who move to underperforming schools.
The Verdict:False. While education has been less prominent than other issues, McCain has several education proposals other than school vouchers.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: CNN FactCheck on 2008 third presidential debate
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Education Jul 12, 2008)
Fight for social & economic justice begins in the classroom
We’ll make sure that every child in this country gets a world-class education from the day they’re born until the day they graduate from college. What McCain is offering amounts to little more than the same tired rhetoric about vouchers. We need to move
beyond the same debate we’ve been having for the past 30 years when we haven’t gotten anything done. We need to fix & improve our public schools, not throw our hands up and walk away from them. We need to uphold the ideal of public education, but we also
need reform. That’s why I’ve introduced a comprehensive strategy to recruit an army of new quality teachers to our communities--and to pay them more & give them more support. We’ll invest in early childhood education programs so that our kids don’t begin
the race of life behind the starting line and offer a $4,000 tax credit to make college affordable for anyone who wants to go. Because as the NAACP knows better than anyone, the fight for social justice and economic justice begins in the classroom.
Click for Barack Obama on other issues.
Source: McCain-Obama speeches at 99th NAACP Convention
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Education Apr 22, 2008)
Supports vouchers, charters, and magnet schools
Gravel supports the following principles regarding education:- Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- Allow teachers and professionals to receive federal funding to establish charter or magnet schools.
- “I support funding education from the earliest years to higher education. In order for young Americans to be competitive in the global marketplace, we must dedicate resources to higher learning. Otherwise, we will be left behind by Asia and Europe.”
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: Presidential Election 2008 Political Courage Test
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Health Care Sep 13, 2007)
Universal coverage with guaranteed equal care
Q: Do you favor universal coverage without exception, and how would you pay for it?A: I’d pay for it with a retail sales tax. I favor universal coverage of quality medical care. I favor it through a device of using vouchers where everybody would be
able to get a voucher. They’d sign up for it every year. It would guarantee them equal health care. All citizens would get the same health care. They would be able choose from insurance plans or a government plan like Medicare.
That’s how we would have health care, and the only way you’re going to pay for it is not by saddling business. All you do by forcing business to pay for health care or
passing a law telling people they have to go buy insurance, which is a subsidy for the insurance companies, all these plans are going backwards.
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: Huffington Post Mash-Up: 2007 Democratic on-line debate
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Health Care Mar 24, 2007)
Single-payer health care plan via vouchers you can add to
Under the single-payer health care voucher plan.we would issue vouchers to every single American. The vouchers, you don’t pay for them, they’re issued to you. You sign up every year for them. The vouchers will have a very modest co-pay, a very modest
deductible, but that’s it. Everybody gets the same product universally. And then if you want more than the product you got, you pay for it. There’s no magic in this whole process. Somebody is going to pay. You know who pays, it’s the average American.
Click for Mike Gravel on other issues.
Source: SEIU Democratic Health Care Forum in Las Vegas
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Health Care Mar 24, 2007)
Vouchers provide freedom of choice and perhaps public plan
With a voucher [system, where each person gets an annual pre-paid health-care voucher], you’ve got the freedom of choice in plans. Now, you might have a public plan if we don’t see the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry shaping up.
But let’s have a central body called a health care board with regional boards that they would then define what the various vouchers are for. And the vouchers are set up for risk on an individual basis, not on a collective this fits all,
because if you’re young, you probably don’t have a cost of more than $3,000. When you’re my age, it could be $180,000 in one year, which is what I got hit with and I went bankrupt as a result of that.
There will be no lemon-dropping-- no “you don’t qualify, you got a preexisting condition.” This plan can work. All we need to do is bring the people in. The people are not empowered to do anything.
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Source: SEIU Democratic Health Care Forum in Las Vegas
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Crime Jan 1, 2007)
Citizen Power includes abolition of the death penalty
During his first term in the Senate, Gravel authored a book titled Citizen Power. In it, he advocated the implementation of numerous populist ideas, including a guaranteed annual income (dubbed the “Citizen’s Wage”), steps against the military-industrial
complex (which he calls the “Warfare State”), abolition of the death penalty, universal health care, school vouchers, a drastic reduction in government secrecy, and an end to what he viewed as an imperialistic foreign policy.
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Source: Wikipedia.org article, “Mike Gravel”
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Education Jan 1, 2007)
Citizen Power includes school vouchers
Gravel’s book entitled Citizen Power advocated the implementation of a national law to do away with voter registration and other barriers to voting, school vouchers, a drastic reduction in government secrecy, and an end to what he viewed as an
imperialistic foreign policy. The book also contained the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the complete platform adopted by the Populist Party during the 1892 presidential election.
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Source: Wikipedia.org article, “Mike Gravel”
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Health Care Jan 1, 2007)
Citizen Power includes universal health care
Gravel authored a book titled Citizen Power in which he advocated the implementation of numerous populist ideas, including public financing of elections, a progressive tax with no deductions or exemptions, universal health care,
and school vouchers. The book also contained the complete text of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the complete platform adopted by the Populist Party during the 1892 presidential election.
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Source: Wikipedia.org article, “Mike Gravel”
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 11, 2006)
Supports public school choice; but not private nor parochial
In 2006, Hillary disparaged vouchers partly on the worry that vouchers enabling parents to send their children to parochial schools could be used to train children to become terrorists. A Cato Institute Education specialist pointed out that “under
federal law no one would be permitted to open a school that advocates violence against the country.” Thus vouchers could not go to a “School of Jihad.” Years earlier, Hillary tried to play centrist on the school choice debate. In It Takes a
Village she said she supported “choice among public schools” but redefined “school choice.” Instead of helping provide choice between public and private schools, she uses choice to mean choice among public schools. She wrote “some critics of public
schools urge greater competition among schools as a way of returning control from bureaucrats and politicians to parents and teachers. I find their arguments persuasive, and that’s why I strongly favor promoting choice among public schools.”
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Source: Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, by Amanda Carpenter, p. 89-90
Barack Obama on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 1, 2006)
More teacher pay in exchange for more teacher accountability
Conservatives argue that the problems in schools are caused by bureaucracies and teachers’ unions; and that the only solution is to hand out vouchers. Those on the left find themselves defending an indefensible status quo, insisting that more spending
will improve education.Both assumptions are wrong. Money does matter in education. But there is no denying that the way many public schools are managed poses at least as big a problem as how well they’re funded.
Our task is to identify those reforms
that have the highest impact on achievement, fund them, and eliminate those programs that don’t produce results. We are going to have to take the teaching profession seriously. This means paying teachers what they are worth. There is no reason why an
experienced, highly qualified teacher shouldn’t earn $100,000. In exchange for more money, teachers need to become more accountable for their performances, and school districts need to have greater ability to get rid of ineffective teachers.
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Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.161-163
Ken Salazar on Vouchers:
(Education Feb 23, 2003)
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.
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Source: Political State Report
Cory Booker on Vouchers:
(Education Feb 1, 2001)
Vouchers and charters can work in inner cities
I have always been, up until maybe four or five years ago, a strong advocate for the old-fashioned way of educating children. I supported public schools only. Even charter schools made me a little uncomfortable when I first heard about them.
But after four or five years of working in inner city Newark, I began to rethink my situation, rethink my philosophy, rethink my views on public education, simply because of the realities I saw around me. Being outcome-focused started to change my view
in favor of options like charter schools, contract schools and, yes, vouchers.I challenge anybody to come into my city and walk with me and simply talk to these inner-city single mothers. You will see that they care more about the education of
their children and are more informed than suburban soccer moms are in the towns where I grew up. They know what it is going to take to help their children achieve the American dream. They believe in [education and vouchers], and they still hold onto it.
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Source: Manhattan Institute Civic Bulletin No. 25, "School Choice"
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 28, 2000)
More teachers, smaller classes, no vouchers
I’ve been involved with schools now for 17 years, working on behalf of education reform. And I think we know what works. We know that getting classroom size down works. That’s why I’m for adding 100,000 teachers to the classroom. We know that modernizing
and better equipping our schools works. And we know that high standards works. But what’s important is to stay committed to the public school system, not siphon off money, as my opponent would, with vouchers.
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Source: NY Senate debate on NBC
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Oct 8, 2000)
Vouchers would take money from public schools
Q: Why don’t you support vouchers for low-income parents?CLINTON: I could not support vouchers that would take money away from schools where teachers are in partitioned hallways, where the teacher has the only textbook in the classroom. If we can get
class size down, if we can provide qualified teachers, we can make a difference. I support adding 100,000 teachers to lower class size. I support the bipartisan school construction funding authority that would permit New York to have school construction
without raising taxes.
LAZIO: I have voted twice to support hiring additional teachers. Under my plan, New York would not get shortchanged. Under Mrs. Clinton’s plan, New Yorkers would be subsidizing Southern states. I think it’s immoral to
force a child to go to a school where they can’t learn. Poor parents want to have the choice to give their children the education that I want for my children. I trust parents to make that decision, and that’s a major philosophical difference.
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Source: Senate debate in Manhattan
Bill Nelson on Vouchers:
(Education Sep 20, 2000)
Opposes parents choosing schools via vouchers
One issue that’s central to our future is the education of our children. Florida’s next senator has to fight for our public schools. I’m a product of the public schools.
We have to demand results and invest in technology - Florida is a 21st century state and we need 21st century schools. And one thing we must never do is take money from public schools to fund vouchers for private schools.
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Source: www.nelsonforsenate.com, “On Education”
Bill Nelson on Vouchers:
(Gun Control Sep 20, 2000)
Opposes absolute right to gun ownership
Let’s take a look at some of the half-baked ideas the Republican Party have kicked around just during the current legislative session in Tallahassee: -
Granting tax cuts for the well-to-do, including for country club memberships;
- Making it harder for the average person to sue big companies;
- Killing the successful anti-smoking advertising campaign;
- Ramming school vouchers down our throats.
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Source: Speech at New Democrat Network Breakfast, Apr.1999
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Sep 13, 2000)
Vouchers drain money from public schools
Q: Do you support vouchers for private schools? CLINTON: I’ve visited schools throughout the state and some of them are among the finest in the world that you could find anywhere. But others are overcrowded, under-resourced. That’s why I put forth a
plan to try to get the teachers that we need and to provide the funds that are required for modernizing our schools, as well as setting high standards, making them safe from violence. I do not support vouchers. And the reason I don’t is because
I don’t think we can afford to siphon dollars away from our underfunded public schools.
LAZIO: I believe that it’s immoral to ask a child to go to a school where they can’t learn or where they’re not safe. 80 percent of African-American and Hispanic
parents feel that they need it. Why should we trap poor kids in failing schools simply because the teachers unions won’t agree with it?
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Source: Clinton-Lazio debate, Buffalo NY
Jesse Ventura on Vouchers:
(Education Jul 10, 2000)
Public dollars belong to public schools
We eliminated the word “vouchers” from our vocabulary. Public dollars belong to public schools. We’ve fought to uphold a controversial set of high standards that redefines what it means
to be educated. We insisted that students need to pass high stakes standards in order to prove they have learned something.
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Source: Speech to Education Commission of the States
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Jul 5, 1999)
Vouchers will not improve our public schools
I know there are some who believe that vouchers are the way to improve our public schools; I believe they are dead wrong. There is simply no evidence that vouchers improve student achievement. We’ve been experimenting with vouchers in some
jurisdictions for a couple of years-we’ve found no evidence that these have made any difference in student achievement. But what they have done is to divert much-needed public funds for the few and have weakened the entire system.
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Source: Remarks to NEA in Orlando, Florida
Jesse Ventura on Vouchers:
(Education Nov 1, 1998)
Public schools are inefficient; but fix them, don’t end them
I am a proud product of the Minnesota public school system. Instead of giving families vouchers, tax credits or deductions to help their children get into private schools, I believe we should be supporting our public school systems. A recent survey
showed that 72% of the respondents preferred improving public schools to vouchers. 21% wanted vouchers and 7% were unsure. When a good system becomes inefficient or ineffective, the best solution is not necessarily to just get rid of the system.
The best solution is to identify the problem areas and promptly implement solutions to fix them. Instead of bashing our public school system, we should be identifying what works and why it works. We should then be copying
or adapting that solution in the problem areas. If the parents, businesses and communities all work together to support our teachers and schools, we can conquer the problems.
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Source: 1998 campaign web site, jesseVentura.org/98campaign
Hillary Clinton on Vouchers:
(Education Aug 4, 1998)
Vouchers siphon off much-needed resources
Charter schools are a way of bringing teachers and parents and communities together-instead of other efforts-like vouchers-which separate people out-siphon much needed resources; and weakening the school systems that desperately need to be strengthened.
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Source: Remarks at Charter School Meeting, Washington DC
Jesse Ventura on Vouchers:
(Education Feb 10, 1998)
Choosing private school includes responsility to pay
Q: Do you favor charter schools, vouchers and private sector involvement in schools?A: I grew up in South Minneapolis and am a product of the public school system. I believe in supporting the public schools. If individuals don’t want to go to the
public schools, they have the choice to go to private schools. But it is their responsibility to pay for that option, not taxpayers.
I place much of the blame that falls on the public schools today on the parents. If your kid is 12 or 13 years old and
doesn’t know how to read, where have the parents been? Why didn’t they figure out that their kid can’t read when the kid was in first or second grade? Why weren’t they in the schools doing something about it then, instead of blaming the schools now?
As Governor, I will say no to vouchers and no to public tax support for private schools. I will work to strengthen the public schools. And I will work to get parents more involved in the education of their kids.
Click for Jesse Ventura on other issues.
Source: E-Democracy Debate
Mike Gravel on Vouchers:
(Education Jan 1, 1972)
Vouchers are innovative & imaginative--let’s experiment
Unless the educational system is improved to meet the needs of today’s changing society, we shall have to consider the implementation of new methods. One possibility is the voucher system soon to be tried on a limited experimental basis. Under this
proposal, parents would be given vouchers which could be used to send their children to any school of their choice, public or private, or, if they prefer, to engage in specialized education activities such as apprenticeships. The cash value of each
voucher would approximate the amount spent on the education of one child each year by the local school district. The system does offer the flexibility and the element of individual choice so often lacking in our educational institutions. However, many
contend it would undermine the public school system & could be used to perpetuate segregation. Nevertheless, it is an innovative concept, something found all too seldom in education, and for that reason it merits further study & serious consideration.
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Source: Citizen Power, by Sen. Mike Gravel, p.159-160
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