BOEHNER CONDEMNS PROVISION TUCKED IN DEMOCRATS‘ SECRET $410 BILLION SPENDING BILL TO KILL D.C. SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM LANGUAGE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE PROGRAM WAS KEPT SECRET BY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS FOR WEEKS, NEVER PASSED BY COMMITTEE

The following information was released by House Republican Leader John Boehner:

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today condemned a provision tucked into Congressional Democrats‘ $410 billion „omnibus“ spending bill that would phase out the District of Columbia’s groundbreaking school choice program, which has provided educational opportunities for thousands of inner-city children since it was established with bipartisan support in 2004. Boehner issued the following statement:

„The D.C. school choice program has provided hope for thousands of low-income children in the District of Columbia since it was established, and has been demonstrating results when it comes to parental satisfaction and increased parental involvement. Eliminating this program would represent an irresponsible and shameful act on the part of the Democratic leadership in Congress, and the children of the District of Columbia deserve better.

„The American people, whose hard-earned money is being spent without the transparency and accountability they were promised by the Democratic majority, also deserve better. Nearly three weeks ago, Republicans asked the Democratic leadership to put this bill online so the American people would have adequate time to review it. They declined to do so, and now we know why. What other unpleasant surprises have Democratic congressional leaders tucked into the text of this massive legislation on behalf of their special-interest political allies?“

NOTE: Last December, Boehner joined other GOP colleagues in sending a letter to Democratic leaders on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to support the program, as passed by the House of Representatives last year. The Heritage Foundation last week released an analysis providing facts about the D.C. school choice program. Boehner, a key supporter of the program, chaired the House Committee on Education and the Workforce at the time the program was established.
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