October 19, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jason McCarty, 405-427-3366

No Credibility Left Behind:
Republican Record of Failed Policies

Under Governor Brad Henry, Oklahoma Democrats led the way to increased education funding while our Republican representatives in the U.S. Congress have consistently voted to undermine education in Oklahoma, first by passing one of the most well-known policy failures, the No Child Left Behind Act, and then by underfunding it.

Less than three weeks before Election Day, poll numbers for the Republican-led Congress remain dismally low with 16% of Americans approving the job they're doing and 75% disapproving. From the record budget deficits, to the occupation of Iraq to education, the Republican-led Congress is floundering after years of broken promises and failed initiatives.

"If you want more of the same rubber-stamp Congress, vote for incumbents like Tom Cole, John Sullivan and Frank Lucas," said Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairwoman Lisa Pryor. "But if you want honesty, responsibility and accountability, you have to vote for Democrats like Dan Boren and candidates like Dr. David Hunter, Hal Spake, Sue Barton and Alan Gentges.

The American people no longer trust Republicans in Washington to keep them safe, effectively fight the war on terror, manage the economy or handle the education of our nation's children. Oklahomans shouldn't either. Democrats remain committed to a new direction for America," Pryor said.

Nationally, the Republican-led Congress has underfunded No Child Left Behind by over $55 billion since 2001. In the 2007 budget, The Bush administration has proposed to provide only half of the promised funding promised for our most disadvantaged students.
In Oklahoma, that means nearly 39,000 disadvantaged children will go without promised help in reading and math. It also means over $83 million less than promised for children with disabilities. And next year's federal budget freezes funding for Head Start, which translates to cut services for 283 of Oklahoma's neediest children.

"With Democrats in charge in Washington, Oklahomans can be assured Congress will focus on the issues that matter to them, including high quality early childhood education, strong public schools, and affordable college education," Pryor said. "Our Democratic Congressmen will follow the lead of Governor Brad Henry to make education funding a priority."