NC Citizens Praise Rep. Walter Jones’ Vote on Education Bill

Last night, Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) voted against HR 1, The Elementary and Secondary Education Authorization Act.

Jonathan Hill, director for North Carolina Citizens for a Sound Economy, issued the following statement regarding Congressman Jones’ vote on the education bill:

“We want to thank and commend Congressman Jones for voting his conscience and voting against HR 1, which is clearly no more than an increase in federal involvement in education. It is evident that he understands the best components of the bill were parental choice and system and local control program flexibility that are focused on meeting the learning needs of our children. Without those components the bill is just more federal involvement in the learning lives of our children. In other words, what we need in education is less command and control from Washington’s bureaucrats, and more control for parents, teachers, and principals–the real experts in the education of our children.

“We know that HR 1 began as a sound education reform plan but was stripped of many of its excellent policies in the legislative process, such as increased accountability, school choice and more local control. We must free states and school districts from federal regulations in return for a commitment to increased performance. We must allow low-income children to attend private school if their public school is failing. Plus, we must have the courage to start a pilot program for school choice that focuses on helping poor, inner city, and rural children. These are key elements in giving our families choice in the education of their children and most of all improving our overall education system.”