[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9731-H9732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SO-CALLED OBEY COMPROMISE

  (Mr. GOODLING asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, the President announced that he would 
develop a national test in 1997 without the approval of the Congress. 
Two hundred ninety-five Members of the Congress said, ``No, you 
won't.'' The President signed a contract anyway. The President said, 
``I will also pilot and field test this national test in 1998, without 
the approval of the Congress.'' Two hundred ninety-five Members said, 
``No, you won't.''
  The so-called Obey compromise that we will hear about says, go, 
ahead, Mr. President, you can do both with the blessing of the 
Congress. Develop the test in 1997. Field test it and pilot in 1998.
  What a slap in the face of the 295 Members of the House of 
Representatives. If we have $100 million to spend, why would we spend 
it to tell 50 percent of our students one more time

[[Page H9732]]

``You're not doing well''? They have been told that time and time again 
after every standardized test they have ever taken.
  If this comes to the floor of the House in this manner, I would hope 
that all 295 would vote against the appropriation bill.

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