Survey of 2006 House campaign websites: on Education

David Davis: Break the strangle-hold of the education bureaucracy

I believe in the future of America, where no American child should fear the competition of the growing global economy. We should break the strangle-hold that the education bureaucracy has on our schools while empowering parents to choose how and where their children are educated and turning decision making back over to local communities. Source: 2006 House campaign website, rightforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Dennis Kucinich: Quality education is a core American right

Since education is the only proven way to reduce poverty, it is unacceptable that a child’s education be dependent on where they are born or the financial status of their family. The federal government spends only 2.9% of its budget on education. This must change. Quality education is a core American right and value. Schools need money to decrease class size, increase teachers’ salaries, renovate decaying facilities, and for pre-kindergarten and after-school programs. Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.kucinich.us Nov 7, 2006

Doug Lamborn: Daily opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance

Doug was the Senate sponsor of a bill two years ago that gives children the opportunity every school day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. He has also tried to make sure that our higher education tax dollars aren’t being used to fund liberal extremists like Ward Churchill. In fact, Doug sponsored a resolution that encouraged the C.U. Board of Regents to fire Churchill. Doug will work hard in Congress, to prohibit the ability of teacher’s unions to negotiate contracts in secret. Source: 2006 House campaign website lambornforcongress.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Doug Lamborn: Vouchers & charters push public schools to do better

Doug believes there should be a limited role for the federal government in our nation’s public education system. While there are some excellent public schools, Doug feels our public education system has slowly deteriorated because of lack of outside competition. That is why Doug advocates public education alternatives such as school vouchers, charter schools, on-line education, and home schooling. These choices not only provide parents with options, they also push our public schools to do better. Source: 2006 House campaign website lambornforcongress.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Gus Bilirakis: Unnecessary bureaucracy hampers localeducation system

The first step the federal government must take to promote education is the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy. The over-management of K-12 education at the federal level hampers the ability of state and local governments to fulfill their responsibility of managing the education system of our country. We must rely on local communities and state governments to develop the most effective education system for our children. Source: 2006 House campaign website, gusbilirakis.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Harry Mitchell: More funding for NCLD and IDEA

Unfortunately, Washington has shirked its responsibility to support adequately our schools. That’s especially true with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation Congress passed in 2001. While I appreciate the intended goals behind NCLB, it has many shortcomings. Even though Congress passed NCLB, they have not adequately funded the programs, and Washington’s failure is putting serious strain on Arizona schools. Congress has also under-funded the Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA) of 1974. Source: 2006 House campaign website, harry2006.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jason Altmire: Strongly supports stregthening our public schools

Jason Altmire is a product of Western Pennsylvania’s public schools and a father of two young children. He strongly supports our public schools and will work to strengthen them. He knows the value and proven results of early childhood education and will work to ensure that every child has access to affordable pre-K schooling.

In Congress, he will work to make college and vocational schools more affordable for working families.

Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.jasonaltmire.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Jerry McNerney: Public education played integral part in US power

Our public education has played an integral part in allowing the United States of America to become the world’s sole superpower. Our colleges have been second to none, drawing talent from all over the world to benefit from our institutions. Source: 2006 House campaign website, jerrymcnerney.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Joe Courtney: No public funds diverted to private schools

Joe Courtney believes every child deserves a top quality education. As a State Representative, Joe voted to lower class sizes, increase funds for school construction, and strengthen teacher standards. He is committed to making sure every child has the educational opportunities they need to get ahead and will work to strengthen our public schools - ensuring no public funds are diverted to private schools. Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.joecourtney.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Joe Sestak: Invest more in our public schools, and demand more

Not fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act has meant deploying a “bare-bones” instead of high-quality testing approach, offering fewer remedial programs, and so on. We must demand more from our public schools, but must invest more in their outcome as well. I will work to ensure there is enough funding for key areas that have been shown to have a significant impact, such as: early childhood education, affordable access to college, and attracting and rewarding quality teachers. Source: 2006 House campaign website, sestakforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

John Yarmuth: Moral obligation to maintain high-quality public schools

The No Child Left Behind Act has actually left millions of children behind. It is a plan deliberately constructed to create “failing” schools, and thereby facilitate support for private and parochial education. We have a moral obligation, not to speak of a critical need, to provide and maintain a high-quality public school system. We cannot divert taxpayer funds from public education, and we must invest heavily not only in infrastructure, but also in teacher development and retention. Source: 2006 House campaign website yarmuthforcongress.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Keith Ellison: Strong and comprehensive public education policy

Because an educated, informed citizenry is the cornerstone of a healthy and vibrant democracy, I believe that funding for education is the greatest single measure of our commitment to reinvest in our society. The development of this citizenry begins with nurturing our children by promoting a strong and comprehensive public education policy. Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.keithellison.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Mary Fallin: Keep activist judges from banning school prayer

I have faith in Oklahoma, in America and in God That faith is at the root of my philosophy of what government ought to be and do. I believe faith is the firm foundation our nation was built upon. I am pro-life, and I believe activist judges who have tried to ban prayer, Christmas and even the Pledge of Allegiance in schools and public places are wrong. The First Amendment assures freedom OF religious expression not freedom FROM it. Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.maryfallin.org, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Patrick Joseph Murphy: Unfunded mandates drain our public schools

Full federal funding for public education:
Unfunded mandates drain our schools and local governments of resources and place unnecessary burdens on our teachers and students. Patrick Murphy will fight to ensure that the federal government follows through on its promises by providing full funding for education.
Improving our college financial aid system.
Improved early childhood education

Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.murphy06.net, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Tim Walberg: Allow choice among public, private, and alternative school

Providing our children with a quality education is one of the greatest challenges we face. Tim supports Education Tax Credits and scholarships so all families will be able to choose among public, private, and alternative school settings the best education available. Source: 2006 House campaign website, walbergforcongress.com “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Vern Buchanan: Give parents more choices and less bureaucracy

Insisting on accountability with flexibility to allow for local control because parents, educators and local communities know best.
Giving parents more choices of schools.
Getting more dollars out of the bureaucracy and into the classroom
Empowering teachers to teach, giving them the authority to remove disruptive or violent students, and paying teachers more for teaching well.
Placing greater emphasis on, and funding for, vocational technical education.

Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.vernbuchanan.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Vern Buchanan: Supports right of our children to pray

Values Matter Most: The people of our area don’t look to Hollywood for moral leadership. We look to ourselves, our communities, our families, our traditional values. Tolerance and kindness are virtues, but values matter most. The sanctity of life and marriage must be defended. I support the Second Amendment and the right of our children to pray. Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.vernbuchanan.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006

Gabby Giffords: Improve our public schools

I’m running for Congress because I believe in fighting for a government that works for all of us - not just the privileged and connected. Like many of you, I am fed up with the bad decisions being made in Washington, and how they impact us here in Southern Arizona. In Washington, I will fight for the priorities that are important to us:

Expanding access to affordable health care
Improving our public schools
Protecting the open spaces we love
Investing in renewable energy.

Source: 2006 House campaign website, giffordsForCongress.com Nov 3, 2006

Scott Kleeb: Don’t punish struggling schools

Nebraska has 246 school districts with less than 600 students. I believe we should celebrate these schools, not cut their budgets, or threaten to toss them into larger, lower-performing districts, all because of short-term budget pressures. The budget pressures are real, it is true. But what I would like to propose is this: Let’s get a federal government that doesn’t boil down education policy into a crusade to punish struggling schools. Source: 2006 House campaign website, scottkleeb.com, “Issues” Nov 1, 2006

Carol Shea-Porter: Vouchers fool us into abandoning our public school system

Education should not be a political football! Our country’s future is at risk, and we must invest in our schools & our children if we are to solve these problems. The right wing of the Republican party is trying to undermine our confidence in our public schools because they want to create a taxpayer funded voucher system for private education from K-12 . We must not be fooled into abandoning our school system. We need to fix problem schools, but we must make them stronger, not doom them to failure. Source: 2006 House campaign website, carolforcongress.com, “Issues” Jun 8, 2006

The above quotations are from Survey of 2006 House campaign websites. Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2016 Presidential contenders on Education:*
	*Republicans:* ~~Gov.Jeb Bush~~(FL) ~~Dr.Ben Carson~~(MD) ~~Gov.Chris Christie~~(NJ) Sen.Ted Cruz(TX) Carly Fiorina(CA) ~~Gov.Jim Gilmore~~(VA) ~~Sen.Lindsey Graham~~(SC) ~~Gov.Mike Huckabee~~(AR) ~~Gov.Bobby Jindal~~(LA) Gov.John Kasich(OH) ~~Gov.Sarah Palin~~(AK) ~~Gov.George Pataki~~(NY) ~~Sen.Rand Paul~~(KY) ~~Gov.Rick Perry~~(TX) ~~Sen.Rob Portman~~(OH) Sen.Marco Rubio(FL) ~~Sen.Rick Santorum~~(PA) Donald Trump(NY) ~~Gov.Scott Walker~~(WI)	*Democrats:* ~~Gov.Lincoln Chafee~~(RI) Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY) ~~V.P.Joe Biden~~(DE) ~~Gov.Martin O`Malley~~(MD) Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT) ~~Sen.Elizabeth Warren~~(MA) ~~Sen.Jim Webb~~(VA) *2016 Third Party Candidates:* ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) Roseanne Barr(PF-HI) Robert Steele(L-NY) Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018