[Senate Document 105-25]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - Senate Document 105-25


 
                             VETO-S. 1502

                               (PM 128)

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                               RETURNING

     WITHOUT MY APPROVAL S. 1502, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDENT 
                  OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ACT OF 1998





                  May 20, 1998.--Ordered to be printed


To the Senate of the United States:
    I am returning herewith without my approval S. 1502, the 
``District of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 
1998.''
    If we are to prepare our children for the 21st Century by 
providing them with the best education in the world, we must 
strengthen our public schools, not abandon them. My agenda for 
accomplishing this includes raising academic standards; 
strengthening accountability; providing more public school 
choice, including public charter schools; and providing 
additional help to students who need it through tutors, 
mentors, and after-school programs. My education agenda also 
calls for reducing class size, modernizing our schools and 
linking them to the Internet, making our schools safe by 
removing guns and drugs, and instilling greater discipline.
    This bill would create a program of federally funded 
vouchers that would divert critical Federal resources to 
private schools instead of investing in fundamental 
improvements in public schools. The voucher program established 
by S. 1502 would pay for a few selected students to attend 
private schools, with little or no public accountability for 
how those funds are used, and would draw resources and 
attention away from the essential work of reforming the public 
schools that serve the overwhelming majority of the District's 
students. In short, S. 1502 would do nothing to improve public 
education in the District of Columbia. The bill won't hire one 
new teacher, purchase one more computer, or open one after-
school program.
    Although I appreciate the interest of the Congress in the 
educational needs of the children in our Nation's Capital, this 
bill is fundamentally misguided and a disservice to those 
children.
    The way to improve education for all our children is to 
increase standards, accountability, and choice within the 
public schools. I urge the Congress to send me legislation I 
have proposed to reduce class size, modernize our schools, end 
social promotions, raise academic standards for all students, 
and hold school systems, schools, and staff accountable for 
results.

                                                William J. Clinton.
    The White House, May 20, 1998.

                                
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