House Roll Call 705 (9-13-11) H.R. 2218 Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act.
Passed in House 365 to 54, 12 not voting, with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. Died in the Senate.
Bill Summary: Revises the federal government’s charter school grant program with the announced purpose of facilitating the expansion and establishment of more high quality charter schools. Establishes new procedures and guidelines for the awarding of grant money.
Analysis: This bipartisan measure reflects total acceptance of the federal government’s continued unconstitutional role in education. Proponents of that role argue that the federal government must take a lead role in improving the nation’s education system. Through the awarding of grant money they induce states and their school systems to accept the accompanying federal demands.
However, the reality is much different from the hype. In fact, this expanding federal control can be linked to many of the problems in education today.
The real agenda behind the increasing federal takeover of public education is hidden from public view under a smokescreen of false pretenses. Indeed, for more than a century the revolutionary drivers behind nationalizing education have sought federal control as the means to reshape society and indoctrinate our children into becoming submissive servants of the state.
We have assigned (good vote) to the Noes and (bad vote) to the Ayes. (P = voted present; ? = not voting; blank = not listed on roll call.)
Among the 13 cosponsors of H.R. 2218 was Representative George Miller of California, one of the most radical Democrats in Congress. In 1994, Miller authored a notorious amendment to an education bill designed to stifle the nationwide revolt against government schools. Miller’s amendment, backed by the National Education Association, would have required state certification of all private and home-school teachers. A half-dozen years later, Miller and Republican John Boehner joined forces in promoting the disastrous “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.” A close ally of Nancy Pelosi, Miller held the chairmanship of the Education and Labor Committee from 2007 to 2011.
Among the 11 Republican cosponsors of H.R. 2218 could be found a number of representatives often touted as conservative. The list also included Wisconsin Representative Thomas E. Petri, a veteran member of the CFR.