[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                VOUCHERS

  (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today unfortunately the radical Republicans 
in Congress are continuing their all-out attack on the public school 
system. They want it to wither on the vine because, just like with 
Medicare, extremists in the Republican Party in Congress do not believe 
in public school education. Public school education is the key that 
unlocks the door to the American dream for more than 90 percent of 
America's children, including my own 2 kids. We cannot allow the 
radical Republicans in Congress to destroy America's public school 
system. Besides, what would be next? Are we going to give people 
vouchers to buy books if they do not believe in the public library? Are 
we going to give people vouchers to buy their own swing set if they 
find the local town park inconvenient?
  No, because America is still a country that believes in the common 
good and the American dream. Let us fix our public schools, let us 
encourage charter public schools to create competition in our public 
schools, but let us not pillage the public school system in America. 
That will not be good for America.

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