Higher Education Reforms Being Obstructed By... Guess Who!
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Tuesday Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced HR 746 which allows for the consideration of amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, a bill sponsored by George Miller and 41 other pro-education types, none of whom happen to be Republicans. Miller's bill seeks to increase the access to college education for children of working class families, something conservatives have opposed from time immemorial. (It also provides funds for repairing schools in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama damaged by Hurricane Katrina.)
It shocked me that all 173 Republicans voted against considering the bill. Again, even when it comes to educating our children for the future, they would rather obstruct than participate. Polis' resolution passed 241-179. That's 6 more votes than the 173 obstructionist Republicans. Smelling mangey old Blue Dogs?
Of course. Crossing the aisle to vote against education yesterday were:
Allen Boyd (Blue Dog-FL)
Bob Etheridge (D-NC)
Parker Griffith (Blue Dog-AL)
Baron Hill (Blue Dog-IN)
Frank Kratovil (Blue Dog-MD)
Dennis Moore (Blue Dog-KS)
If you're wondering how even an extremely reactionary congressman like Griffith could possibly vote against a bill that would bring much needed funds to Alabama for schools, keep in mind that his district is way up north and far from the ravages of Katrina. One of the wealthiest members of the House, he's always been a firm advocate of one of the principal tenets of conservatism: "I've got mine, screw everyone else."
Yesterday the House passed it along with the rets of HR 3221, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009-- Investing in Students and Families, Increasing College Access and Completion. The final bill passed 253-171, 4 reactionaries-- Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (Blue Dog-SD), Allen Boyd (Blue Dog-FL), Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) and Michael McMahon (D-NY)-- skipping across the aisle to vote with their Republican allies. Half a dozen Republicans who favor education more than obstructionism, passed them going in the other direction.
By the way, the BadDogs ActBlue page is dedicated to one goal and one goal only-- defeating Blue Dogs and replacing them with Democrats who will stand up and fight for working families. It's just getting going, but please take a look-- and send us your suggestions at downwithtyranny@gmail.com/
Labels: Blue Dogs, education reform, higher education
posted by DownWithTyranny @ 12:00 PM
4 comments
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4 Comments:
I am surprised Barrow isn't in on this.
Most white legislators from Alabama don't have any interest in public education. Most of them with school age children enroll them in private academies, as does the majority of other whites in the state.
equestrian1:
And what about Walt Minnick? He's not on that list either.
Paul Kanjorski isn't a reactionary. He is owned by the student loan industry. The industry showered him with cash for his tough 2008 reelection battle and now he is not-so-subtly paying them back. It's an extremely obvious quid-pro-quo even for the U.S. House.
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