Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., has explained his support for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which passed with strong bipartisan support and replaced the hated No Child Left Behind law.
The new law "reins in federal involvement in K-12 education" and streamlines "dozens of existing federal programs," Hoeven said. In addition, the new law gives states more flexibility "to develop their own accountability plans, not based on tests alone."
And it "restores state authority over both funding decisions and education standards," he said.
The legislation also puts new restrictions on the education secretary's authority, we're told. (Of course, future Congresses could give the secretary much more authority.)
But what the law doesn't do is this: It doesn't get the federal government out of education. Then states and school districts really could develop their own plans.
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Federal money means more and more federal control as time goes on.
Many politicians pride themselves on being "conservatives," but seldom on being "constitutionalists." Perhaps they want to "conserve" federal interference in education rather than eliminate the Education Department, as Ronald Reagan wanted.
The Constitution doesn't give the federal government any power over education. The topic isn't even mentioned. Father of the Constitution James Madison said, "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite."
I once thought many politicians wanted to repeal legislation such as Obamacare, but instead they want to repeal and replace. I guess they just want "socialism-lite."
Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., voted for the Every Child Succeeds Act, too.
Want to cut that $18 trillion debt? Want to return to state and local control? Then demand that Congress "repeal"-not "replace."
Duane Stahl
Valley City, N.D.
