New Law Left Behind

Is there a GOP backlash against BushCo's No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law? According to the Washington Post, it seems there may be. And Democrats are gleefully piling on.

The Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates sharply criticized President Bush's signature education program Friday, calling the No Child Left Behind Act an unfunded mandate that threatens to undermine the state's own efforts to improve students' performance.

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No Republicans voted against the resolution, a fact that House Education Committee Chairman James H. Dillard II (R-Fairfax) said is proof that "the damn law is ludicrous."

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As a result of a Republican legislative initiative in Ohio, the state commissioned a study released this month that found the federal government had significantly underfunded No Child Left Behind.

In North Dakota, a resolution sponsored by Democrats that stated the "cost to states of implementing the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is as yet unclear" was passed by both the Republican-controlled House and Senate. And the Republican legislature in Utah is considering legislation to forgo the federal money and opt out of the program entirely.

While this is just one part of BushCo's overall plan, it must be a sharp rebuke to what has seemed an unstoppable thrust to change so many aspects of our society. That even some of their staunchest supporters are starting to fight back gives some hope for November. At least it seems that way from the end of January.