Governors split on federal oversight of education, health initiatives
Members of the National Governors Association held a private session with President Bush and six Cabinet secretaries Monday to discuss funding and policy challenges between states and the federal government, especially as they related to education and health care spending.
One of the most divisive issues during the meeting was the Education Department's No Child Left Behind Act.
Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., defended the program, saying it creates an atmosphere in schools that is like a contest where scores are always being kept so students are constantly encouraged to give their best.
Gov. Thomas Vilsack, D-Iowa, said, however, that the federal government is not providing states adequate resources to make the program work.
"In order for us to be accountable, we have to have the tools," Vilsack said. "Give us the resources and we'll make it work."
The president said the federal government should insist on results and accountability when providing funding to states for education. "I can assure you [that] there will be a vigorous defense of what I think is the one of the most constructive reforms in education policy at the federal government ever," Bush said.
Education Secretary Rod Paige was one of the six Cabinet members who met with the governors. At one point, Paige referred to the National Education Association as a "terrorist organization" for resisting elements of No Child Left Behind, governors said.
"I think we were all a bit stunned by it," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm, D-Mich. She added that she was "more frustrated" after the meeting than before it. "There's a lot of talk about partnering and flexibility, but we just haven't seen them walk the walk," she said.
The Education Department released a statement from Paige after the meeting clarifying his remarks.
"It was an inappropriate choice of words to describe the obstructionist scare tactics the NEA's Washington lobbyists have employed against No Child Left Behind's historic education reforms," Paige said.
"I also said, as I have repeatedly, that our nation's teachers, who have dedicated their lives to service in the classroom, are the real soldiers of democracy, whereas the NEA's high-priced Washington lobbyists have made no secret that they will fight against bringing real, rock-solid improvements in the way we educate all our children regardless of skin color, accent or where they live," he added. "But, as one who grew up on the receiving end of insensitive remarks, I should have chosen my words better."
On health care, governors expressed their support for Bush's selection of Mark McClellan to be the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is under the Health and Human Services Department. McClellan is commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and the brother of White House press secretary Scott McClellan.
Governors said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson offered reassurances that CMS funding streams to state governments would not be blocked.