Obama Proposes Extending D.C. Voucher Program [flips his flop]

Washington Post ^ | 5-6-09 | Shailagh Murray

[SJackson]

President Obama will seek to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program until all 1,716 participants have graduated from high school, although no new students will be accepted, according to an administration official who has reviewed budget details scheduled for release tomorrow.

The budget documents, which expand on the fiscal 2010 blueprint that Congress approved last month by outlining Obama's priorities in detail, would provide $12.2 million for the Opportunity Scholarship Program for the 2009-2010 school year. The new language also would revise current law that makes further funding for existing students contingent on Congress's reauthorization of the program beyond its current June 2010 expiration date. Under the Obama proposal, further congressional action would not be necessary, and current students would automatically receive grants until they finish school.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan had told reporters that it didn't make sense "to take kids out of a school where they're happy and safe and satisfied and learning," but Democrats effectively terminated the program by requiring its reauthorization. Obama must now convince Democratic lawmakers to endorse a gradual phase out by continuing to include grant funding in future appropriation bills.

[SJackson]

Now they say, I don’t know what I was thinking.

I sincerely hope your friends are mainstream Americans. Not Republicans, not Democrats. That will turn the country around.

[SJackson]

The next step should be to parade the younger siblings of program participants, showing how the little brother or sister is getting shafted.

Hopefully the parents and their advocates, Sharpton, Jackson and the crew, will raise the issue loudly before the younger siblings get shafted. I understand why the left wants to shaft these kids, we should help them.

[nobama08]

I saw part of that interview. Impressive. Obama isn’t nearly as strong as he likes to pretend. Of course, he has no moral center to ground himself. Say what you will about Bush, but he usually stuck to his guns.

[nobama08]

I wouldn’t bet on it.