Paul Urges Colleagues to Support School Construction

FOR RELEASE: June 23, 2000

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, Congressman Ron Paul wrote to his colleagues in the House asking them to join him in cosponsoring Congressman Clay Shaw’s "Public School Construction Partnership Act" (HR 2514). Paul recently became a cosponsor of the Shaw bill after contacting every school superintendent in the 14th District. The enthusiastic feedback he received convinced him the bill would be of great benefit to schools in Texas.

Paul stated, "We received input from almost 100 different schools in the district. Practically every superintendent that returned our call was in favor of this proposal. I believe it will be beneficial to our schools, especially those in rural areas."

The "Public School Construction Partnership Act" helps school districts meet their facility and technology needs while minimizing the property tax burden on homeowners and businesses. The bill contains the following four major provisions, each designed to enable school districts to build new facilities:

- Allows school districts to use public-private partnerships to finance school construction.

- Frees school bond issuers from complex, burdensome tax rules.

- Reduces project costs, and permits school bond issuers greater flexibility in planning how to meet their school construction needs.

- Broadens the market for bonds issued by small school districts.

The bill will result in more schools being built and repaired, and it will accelerate construction projects currently on the capital investment plans of some school districts. It also provides state and local governments with a variety of options to choose from when financing school construction.

"This bill will benefit all of the schools in my district by expanding their options of how to fund new schools," said Paul. "Unlike most education plans that come out of Washington, it leaves the decision making authority with the local school districts. My staff and I reached out to every school in my district to decide whether or not to support this bill. After considering the advice of almost 100 school districts, I am convinced the 'Public School Construction Partnership Act' is a good bill and I call on all of my colleagues to support it."