Senate Proceeding on Feb 26th, 2009 :: 2:00:15 to 2:02:25
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2:00:12 to 2:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: mrs. feinstein: is the subject of this amendment vouchers? mr. ensign: yes. mrs. feinstein: no problem. the presiding officer: without objection, so the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from nevada, mr. ensign, proposes an amendment numbered 587. mr. ensi consent further reading be dispensed. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. ensign: madam president,

2:00:15 to 2:02:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Ensign

2:00:35 to 2:00:55( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: we have a d.c. voucher program for low-income kids, 165% and below the poverty level. they can have up to $7,500 to attend a school, a private school, to give them a chance. it has been said that education,

2:00:56 to 2:01:17( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: especially k-12 is a civil right. i believe it is. washington, d.c. public schools are failing too many of our, especially our low-income kids. they trap them in schools that are failing. about half of kids in washington, d.c. public schools do not even graduate. and this isn't a question of money, madam president.

2:01:18 to 2:01:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: the district spends more, maybe the highest in the country, if not the highest certainly up to the highest, they spend almost $15,000 a year per student per school in public schools. that's almost three times the amount we spend per student per year in nevada and yet the performance of the public schools is pathetic. there's very few members of

2:01:40 to 2:02:01( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: congress who would allow their kids to go to these failing schools. so why should we trap poor children in these public schools? the reason i'm offering my amendment today which would reauthorize for one year this very valuable voucher program, is in the appropriations,

2:02:02 to 2:02:23( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: omnibus appropriations bill that is coming up, it the program. we need to make sure this program is in place in time enough for there to be time for the parents to plan for the children's education for the fall so, madam president, this is an permit amendment. this really is a civil rights amendment. if we are tee talking about the

2:02:24 to 2:02:25( Edit History Discussion )

John Ensign: right to -- if we're talking about the right to