A new “Contract with America” is in the offing. Yesterday, freshman Representative Aaron Schrock (R-IL) said the Republican Party would be unveiling a new version of the “Contract with America,” likely this summer. Later, original Contract architect Newt Gingrich called on Republicans to offer a new vision, saying the Party needs to be more than just a Party of No.
“It's not enough to say no to the radical agenda of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. America needs to know that Republicans say ‘yes’ to balancing the budget by growing the economy and reducing spending, not by raising or creating new taxes; ‘yes’ to empowering patients and doctors to reduce healthcare costs, not government bureaucrats; ‘yes’ to achieving energy independence through an ‘all of the above’ strategy that will lower energy costs and stop sending our money to hostile regimes, not through an energy tax that will be a burden on small businesses and families.” (Alexander Mooney, “Gingrich To Call On Republicans To Offer New Vision,” CNN, 4/8/10)
Right on. Americans are inspired by bold leadership and a vision for a better future. Recent polls show creeping pessimism among the electorate about the decline in the standard of living and many now fear their children will be less prosperous than in previous generations. Much of this pessimism is due to out of control spending that is leading to unsustainable debt and an economy that is stagnant and unemployment circling double digits. But that’s not it. It’s also about a “broken government,” where tax dollars are collected, redistributed inequitably, with diminishing results. So, let’s kill a couple of birds with one stone: dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
There’s an age-old question in presidential politics, “are you better off today than you were four years ago?” Candidates for president often ask that question to highlight the shortcomings of the incumbent or the party of the outgoing incumbent. When it comes to education, the question should be, “are we better off after 30 years?” To the point, since the creation of the U.S. Department of Education in 1979, has education in America improved?
In 1979, the Democrat controlled Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act establishing a Cabinet-level department of the federal government. President Jimmy Carter, one of America’s greatest one-term Presidents, signed the legislation into law and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) began operating the following year, in 1980.
For its first year in operation, Congress appropriated $14 billion to the new bureaucratic entity. Nearly 30 years later, the budget ballooned to $68.6 billion (2008 appropriations), a 390% increase in federal spending. Overall, appropriators have spent over $1 trillion of taxpayer money through ED.
Ironically, even though Congress was dominated by Democrats in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, the largest increases in spending were overseen by Republican Presidents. Under President Reagan’s tenure, spending increased 42.6%, from $14.7 billion to over $20 billion. Reagan’s successor, President George H. W. Bush, fared only slightly better, increasing spending 40.9%, from $22 billion to over $32.1 billion.
Surprisingly, President Bill Clinton only increased federal spending by 18.4%, from more than $32 billion to $38.4 billion. Of course, Clinton’s record on federal spending had much to do with the 1994 Republican Revolution that swept liberal tax and spend Democrats from Congress and replaced them with fiscal conservatives who set out to balance the budget, eliminate runaway deficit spending and cut ever-growing taxes. Republican Revolutionaries, including former Rep. John Kasich (R-OH) and former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL) even attempted to shutter ED, obviously to no avail.
Then a funny thing happened; the Republican Party lost its moral compass on the issue of federal spending and infringement on States rights with increased meddling in education. Under President George W. Bush, and a Congress controlled by Republicans for much of Bush’s tenure, federal spending at ED increased by 63%, from slightly more than $42 billion to over $68.5 billion.
This is the type of runaway spending and encroachment on liberty that has Republicans soul searching for its core principles since the Party was walloped in 2006 and 2008.
Dismantling ED isn’t a new concept. Republicans long opposed the federal government’s meddling in the familial, local and state affairs in education. In fact, before it was even born, conservatives opposed the bureaucratic takeover of education. Since then, it has long been the mantle of the Republican Party to dismantle this monstrosity.
In 1976, Ronald Reagan Warned Of A Government Monopoly Of Education. “‘Right now in public education we are very close to a monopoly,’ wrote Reagan in his 1976 book, ‘Call to Action.’ ‘Every year thousands of parochial and private schools close down because they can't compete against the public schools, which drain off more and more in taxes. Most of us are left with no choice but the public schools, good or bad.’” (Dan Morgan, “Reagan, Opponents Differ Sharply On Educational Policy,” The Washington Post, 9/12/80)
Reagan: “I think that this Department of Education is hoping to make come true the dream of the National Education Association, which for many years has been that we should have a federal school system . . . This is the first step toward it.” (Ronald Reagan, Interview, The Associated Press, 10/1/80)
In 1980, The Republican Party Platform At Reagan’s Convention Encouraged “The Elimination Of The Federal Department Of Education.” (Republican Party Platform of 1980, Adopted by the Republican National Convention, Detroit, MI, 7/15/80)
• “Reagan and the Republicans also have pledged to abolish the Department of Education, a creation of the Carter administration.” (Dan Morgan, “Reagan, Opponents Differ Sharply On Educational Policy,” The Washington Post, 9/12/80)
The 1996 Republican Party Platform Again Call For The Abolition Of The Department Of Education. “Our formula is as simple as it is sweeping: the federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in school curricula or to control jobs in the work place. That is why we will abolish the Department of Education, end federal meddling in our schools, and promote family choice at all levels of learning.” (Republican Party Platform of 1996, Adopted by the Republican National Convention, San Diego, CA, 8/12/96)
If Republicans truly want to regain their footing, reset their moral compass, and stand up for families and States rights, Republicans will return to opposing big government solutions. Pledging to dismantle ED would be a great place to start.
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