House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee today heralded a Republican economic plan designed to help jumpstart a lagging economy by lowering gas prices, cutting pork barrel spending, stopping Democrats’ planned tax hike, and fixing a broken Washington to ensure long-term growth and job creation.

“American families are struggling with high gas prices, lagging job creation, and the looming threat of the Democrats’ nearly $700 billion tax hike, the largest in American history,” said Education and Labor Committee Senior Republican Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA). “Americans need solutions, and that’s exactly what Republicans are offering.”

The economic reform plan outlined by top Republicans today includes concrete steps to bolster America’s long-term economic security, including specific proposals to benefit workers, small businesses, and schools.

Strengthening Education

The Republican economic reform plan fosters innovation in America’s schools by supporting increased state and local control and flexibility, expanding parental options through school choice, and encouraging states to provide extra support for good teachers through teacher performance pay initiatives.

The reform principles outlined today build upon Republican efforts in recent years to promote education reform through accountability, flexibility, and parental choice.  For instance, Rep. McKeon last year proposed legislation to give state and local officials even greater freedom than they already enjoy under the No Child Left Behind Act to spend federal dollars in the way that will best meet their students’ needs.  Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) has championed the Teacher Incentive Fund, which helps states establish innovative pay-for-performance systems that reward teachers for their success in the classroom.  And Republicans are responsible for creation of the hugely popular D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which offers disadvantaged students in one of the nation’s most troubled school districts the opportunity to transfer to a private school.

This record of education innovation stands in stark contrast with the Democrats’ history of marching in lockstep with the entrenched education establishment.  Just this week, a number of media accounts have chronicled efforts by education reform opponents to pressure Democratic leaders to defund the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, stripping low-income students of the only lifeline available to help them escape chronically underperforming schools.  This, despite the fact that the program has long enjoyed the support of members of both political parties and has proven immensely popular with District residents, among whom the demand for scholarships has continually outpaced the supply.

Supporting Workers & Job-Creating American Businesses

Republicans know that the best way to jumpstart economic expansion is to create an environment that is friendly to American enterprise.  That’s why the Republican economic reform plan promotes economic security for workers and businesses alike.  By easing the tax burden, promoting secure access to affordable healthcare, and leveling the playing field for Americans to compete in the global market, the Republican economic reform plan will support the workers, small businesses, and enterprising ingenuity that fuel America’s economic engine.

“Republicans are offering the vision and commitment needed to get America’s economy back on track,” said McKeon.  “From our commonsense plans to bring down the price of gas and promote energy independence to our comprehensive economic solutions, Republicans are proving their ability to offer the change America deserves.”

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