It's hard to understand why Rep. Jeff Flake's votes are so consistently out of the mainstream of his own party. He's so wedded to the dogma that government can do nothing that he's made being a do-nothing congressman his life's work.
Take for example, the issue of education, one that's critical to America's competitiveness in the world.
Just a few days ago Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas expressed the views of most Republicans and certainly most Democrats and independents in an article called "Keep America Competitive" that she wrote for The Austin American-Statesman:
There is a growing consensus that America's future prosperity is threatened by an erosion in our educational capabilities. Compared with children in other countries, our nation's students are underperforming in the vitally important fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These areas of expertise spur creativity and new technologies, which are essential for economic growth. In fact, as much as 85 percent of the measured growth in per capita income is due to technological advancement. . .
Our neglect has led to China surpassing the United States as the world's largest exporter of information-technology products. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that America is the world's technological leader in the 21st century...Many economists predict that, in 10 years, London will supplant New York as the world's financial capital. . .
[We must] build upon the highly successful America Competes Act, which Congress passed last year. This legislation expands research by 2001 by doubling funding levels for the National Science Foundation to $11.2 billion and substantially increases funding for the Energy Department's Office of Science by 144 percent to more than $5.2 billion.
Second, the act also strengthens the skills of teachers in science, technology, engineering and math. According to the Center for the Study of Teaching, the most consistent predictor of student achievement in STEM is the presence of teachers who are fully certified and have at least a bachelor's degree in the subject they teach. That's why we're funding Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow, a grant program modeled after the UTeach Program at the University of Texas that encourages undergraduate students to gain degrees in their STEM fields of study with teacher certification obtained through required electives. In addition, the legislation increases the number of Advanced Placement courses in underprivileged schools and the supply of teachers who are able to teach those courses.
Altogether, the America Competes Act is a major step forward in meeting the economic challenges of the future. Congress must advance legislation that strengthens our long-term prosperity.
Last August the House passed the America Competes Act, with 143 Republicans joining all but one Democrat in favor of strengthening American competitiveness.
Out-of-step, wrong-for-America Rep. Jeff Flake voted against this bill even though most of his party joined Democrats in support of this groundbreaking legislation aimed at ensuring the United States’ strong footing as a global economic leader and retaining our “brainpower advantage.”
President Bush proudly signed the bill after passage.
What's wrong with Jeff Flake that he doesn't want to help America retain its competitiveness in a global economy where high-level math, science and technology skills are needed?
Why does Jeff Flake always put his rigid extremist ideology first and America last?
And why does this do-nothing, uncaring, wrong-for-America ideologue who does nothing to protect our kids' future keep getting re-elected?
Maybe it's because he hasn't had a serious opponent since gas was $1.29 a gallon.
0 comments:
Post a Comment