[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 133 (Thursday, September 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SCHOOL VOUCHERS

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, in the time remaining, I raise one other 
issue, the issue of opportunity scholarships, of expanded choice for 
students, the issue of the debate we are having over the opportunity 
for the children of the District of Columbia to take advantage of a 
``voucher'' program. We do not like to use that word. In my State, it 
is a pretty divisive word.
  The Mayor of Washington, Anthony Williams, says this is the right 
thing to do. As a former mayor, I will stand with Mayor Williams. This 
is a very divisive issue in my city of St. Paul. When I ran, I said I 
would not push vouchers for the people of Minnesota. We had our debate. 
We have gone a different path, expanding charter schools. St. Paul, my 
city, had the first charter school in the Nation. As mayor, we started 
20 more charter schools, providing tax incentives and tax credits so 
parents could get money back and use money they need to support their 
kids' education, to give their kids more choice. That makes sense.
  But more needs to be done. I recognize that. This is a divisive 
issue. When the Mayor of the District of Columbia is saying we need to 
do this for our kids, why not do it? It is not taking any money from my 
kids in Minnesota. It is not taking any money from any kids in any of 
the other States. We have a local, elected official saying we need to 
do this; our kids are failing and we need to give them more hope and 
opportunity. Why not do it? What are we afraid of?
  When I was mayor of St. Paul, the Governor offered, I believe, $13 
million to any community that would simply do a pilot project offering 
opportunity scholarships to the poorest of the poor and only the kids 
who were not succeeding.
  So you were not going to take the cream of the crop. You were not 
going to cherry-pick. You were going to take those who were not making 
it. You have to do something. In fact, the offer was that out of this 
$13 million, he would give $10 million to the school district to do 
whatever they wanted. Only $3 million would be for this pilot project. 
And not a single elected official, other than myself, would stand up 
and do it.
  What are we afraid of? If all you keep doing is what you have been 
doing, all you are going to get is more of the same. Our children need 
more hope and opportunity. I hope we have the courage to give it a shot 
and a chance. The downside is minimal. The opportunity is great. Let's 
seize the opportunity. Let's do this for the kids. Let's do the right 
thing. Let's make change. Let's give hope.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coleman). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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