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Bob Barr
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Voted YES on No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH; Bill HR 1 ; vote number 2001-145 on May 23, 2001
"The more we increase government control over education, the bigger the problem becomes. Turning education over to the federal government, as through such legislation as the No Child Left Behind Act has not worked."
Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. HR 6, the Higher Education Amendments Act of 1997, would prohibit any post-secondary institution that participates in any program under the Higher Education Act from discriminating or granting any preferential treatment in admission based on race, sex, ethnicity, color or national origin.
Amendment introduced by Riggs, R-CA.; Bill HR 6 ; vote number 1998-133 on May 6, 1998
Barr has consistently opposed affirmative action and minority contract programs.
From the Libertarian Party Platform: "Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education."
National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado
Voted YES on the Charter School Expansion Act of 1998 (HR 2616) a vote to amend title VI and X of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve and expand charter schools. Grants priority for additional funding after the initial $51 million appropriation to states that evaluate and monitor charter schools' success at least once every five years, increase the number of successful charter schools, and allow charter schools to maintain fiscal autonomy.
Bill Number: HR 2616, Date: 11/07/1997
From the Libertarian Party Platform: "Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education."
National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado
Voted YES on vouchers for private and parochial schools. Vote to pass a bill to allow states to use certain federal funds designated for elementary and secondary education to provide scholarships, or vouchers, to low-income families to send their children to private schools, including religious schools
Bill sponsored by Riggs, R-CA; Bill HR 2746 ; vote number 1997-569 on Nov 4, 1997
Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. Vote to create a non-profit corporation to administer federally-funded vouchers for low-income children in the District of Columbia.
Amendment introduced by Armey, R-TX; Bill HR 4380 ; vote number 1998-411 on Aug 6, 1998
Voted YES on vouchers for private and parochial schools. Vote to pass a bill to allow states to use certain federal funds designated for elementary and secondary education to provide scholarships, or vouchers, to low-income families to send their children to private schools, including religious schools.
Bill sponsored by Riggs, R-CA; Bill HR 2746 ; vote number 1997-569 on Nov 4, 1997
Voted YES on requiring states to test students. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would authorize $22.8 billion in education funding, a 29 percent increase from fiscal 2001. The bill would require states to test students to track progress.
Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH; Bill HR 1 ; vote number 2001-145 on May 23, 2001
Voted YES on HR 2300: To allow a State to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of all its students. Includes provisions relating to the following: uses of funds to improve student achievement; an accountability system; performance goals and measures; student academic achievement data; fiscal responsibilities; civil rights; private school student and staff participation; state financial participation; and annual reports.
Bill Number: HR 2300, Date: 10/21/1999
Voted YES on the Teacher Empowerment Act (HR 1995), a bill that authorizes states to implement teacher testing to determine if current teachers should remain in the classrooms. Creates mentoring programs for newly hired teachers. Authorizes local educational agencies to use funds for teacher quality improvement and professional development, including technology training, tenure reform, and merit pay.
Bill Number: HR 1995, Date: 07/20/1999
Voted YES on the Teacher Empowerment Act (HR 1995), a vote to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to empower teachers, improve student achievement through high-quality professional development for teachers, reauthorize the Reading Excellence Act, and for other purposes. Highlights: Appropriates $2 billion per year from 2000-2004 for block grants that are given thru states to to local educational agencies to hire and retain qualified teachers and to reduce class sizes. Authorizes states to implement teacher testing to determine if current teachers should remain in the classrooms. Creates mentoring programs for newly hired teachers. Authorizes local educational agencies to use funds for teacher quality improvement and professional development, including technology training, tenure reform, and merit pay.
Bill Number: HR 1995, Date: 07/20/1999
From the Libertarian Party Platform: "Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education."
National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado
"Trying to fix failing schools with more money and regulations also has failed to do anything other than waste taxpayer money without results."
"The federal government should have no role in determining or supporting any specific curriculum of a public school. This decision should be made at the local level. As president, such an issue would be outside of what I view as proper federal jurisdiction."
Campaign Response (9/2/08)
Barr co-sponsored a resolution for a School Prayer Amendment: H. J. RES. 78 (1997): To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. Neither the United States nor any State shall require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.
H.J.Res.78 97-HJR78 on May 8, 1997
Barr co-sponsored a bill requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: H.R.1, S.73: No Dept. of Education funds shall be available to any educational agency which prevents participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools by individuals on a voluntary basis. No educational agency shall require any person to participate in prayer or influence the form or content of any constitutionally protected prayer in such public schools.
S. 73, Voluntary School Prayer Protection Act, 1/22/2001
We oppose any form of compulsory national service.
National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado
"Just as I oppose the draft, I believe individuals are not servants of the public - especially the government - and mandatory public service is incompatible with liberty in the United States. I would oppose any sort of mandated public service for any individual of any age."
Campaign Response (9/2/08)
"The free market naturally provides both choice and competition, providing goods and services of higher quality for less expense. These principles should be applied to education. Unfortunately, the government’s near monopoly on education in the United States has seized control of our children’s education from parents, and has trapped children in failing schools across the country."
"The free market naturally provides both choice and competition, providing goods and services of higher quality for less expense. These principles should be applied to education. Unfortunately, the government’s near monopoly on education in the United States has seized control of our children’s education from parents, and has trapped children in failing schools across the country."