Citizen Tom

On May 31st, the Republican Party of Virginia will hold its state convention in Richmond.  We will select between three candidates.  Unfortunately, only two these candidates are serious contenders:  Jim Gilmore and Bob Marshall.  Gilmore says he has the nomination, but Marshall says otherwise.

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore says he’s all but clinched the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.

“Baloney,” replies Bob Marshall, an outspoken state delegate also vying for the GOP’s senate banner. (from here)

Who is winning?  Well, since Gilmore refuses to debate or even acknowledge that Marshall exists, perhaps it is no surprise that Gilmore thinks he is winning the nomination.  If you don’t have an opponent, how can you lose?   

Why does Marshall call Gilmore’s claim “baloney”?

Marshall says most delegates are still ripe for plucking. “We’re making calls and finding Gilmore’s support is exceptionally soft,” he said.

A prime reason for the reticence, Marshall says, is that Gilmore’s belief that abortion should be legal during the first two months of pregnancy puts him at odds with social conservatives. Marshall dismisses Gilmore and Mark Warner as cookie-cutter politicians. ” Neither of them will challenge the traditional political status quo,” Marshall said. “What we need in Washington are people willing to throw policy grenades.”

Given Gilmore’s refusal to debate, we have only one choice;  we must do a little research and compare the candidates positions and records.  So it is that this post seeks to evaluate Gilmore’s and Marshall’s positions and records on education issues. 

Ostensibly, the Federal Government has no role with respect to education, but the lack of constitutional authority does not seem to stop elected officials from spending money and issuing mandates.  Given current trends we risk the incremental establishment of an education monopoly directed and operated from Washington D.C.   We must stop this abuse of authority.  Unfortunately, we will not likely get the Federal Government out of the education business soon.  So we need a senator who can both reverse the trend and do as little damage as possible.

Candidate Positions on the Education Issues

Jim Gilmore

With respect to issues, Gilmore does not have much to say on his website.  Apparently, he regards the Internet primarily as a fund raising device.  Here is the sum total of what he has to say about education.

“While I was Governor, the General Assembly voted for my efforts to hire 4,000 new teachers so we could get our education resources into the classroom where they could make a difference for our children. Today, as a result of that effort the pupil teacher in Virginia is the third best in the nation. I also worked to implement the Standards of Learning, mandate that state lottery proceeds be used for education and help Virginia’s college students by cutting the cost of college tuition by 20 percent.”  (from here) 

This video taken when Gilmore was still campaigning for the presidential nomination probably provides a better explanation of Gilmore’s stance on education.

• Begin an honest conversation about college costs. (Apr 2007)
• College scholarships for every qualified needy student. (Jan 2001)
• Expand Algebra Readiness Initiative; hire more teachers. (Jan 2001)
• Raise teacher pay with local funds. (Jan 2001)
• More support for traditional African-American universities. (Jul 2000)
• Moment of silence does not infringe on students’ rights. (Feb 2000)
• Calls for a voucher plan in Virginia schools. (Jul 1999)

Bob Marshall

By comparison, Marshall leaves no doubt about his position on education and what he would do as your senator.  Here is an excerpt from his website.

The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979.   In the 1980 presidential contest, Ronald Reagan promised to end the Department of Education.  In his 1982 State of the Union Address, Reagan again pledged to dismantle the Education Department, but a Democrat controlled Congress blocked him.  As recent at 1996, the Republican Party Platform stated: “The Federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in school curricula or to control jobs in the market place. This is why we will abolish the Department of Education.”   That has not happened.  In fact, federal spending on “education” was $65.7 Billion in FY 2007.  I believe this money could better be spent in the classroom.   States are better situated to address and provide classroom instruction than the federal government. (from here)

This link shows Marshall’s education platform in his recent reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates.  Marshall clearly supports school choice. 

I also support “School Choice” which has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court to be constitutional and which surveys have shown returns more decision making power and responsibility to parents, where it belongs, and which also enhances academic excellence in the conventional public schools and other educational options chosen by parents due to healthy competition.

Where School Choice has been implemented and measures established, academic performance has improved in both the conventional public school setting and the alternative educational settings chosen by parents who may use vouchers for their child’s education.  By providing competition, school choice introduces efficiencies into education that benefit the children as well as the community.  And typical private elementary-secondary education is considerably less expensive per pupil than conventional public education, so school choice has the potential to save tax money.

On the issues we care about, Marshall takes clear, consistent positions.

Candidate Records

Jim Gilmore (Project Vote Smart synopsis here).

Yesterday Mark Warner kicked off his campaign for the Senate.  He began his campaign with some barely disguised gibes at his predecessor in the governor’s house.  Just as Gilmore says looks forward to running against Warner, it would appear Warner also hopes to run against Gilmore.  Why is Gilmore Warner’s preferred Republican opponent?  Well, the truth is otherwise.  Nonetheless, it has become conventional wisdom that Gilmore left office with the state in a financial mess. 

Although Warner did not mention Gilmore by name, he took a few shots at the man who preceded him as governor. He blamed Gilmore for leaving the state in financial disarray and understating the scope of the problem.

“Everyone was amazed that the budget shortfall my predecessor left behind was four times greater that he said it would be,” said Warner, who had to make $6 billion in adjustments to balance the budget during the stalled economy in 2002.  (from here)

Should Gilmore become the Republican nominee, he must overcome this perception.  In addition to correcting the record proffered by Warner, Gilmore must be able to point to accomplishments.  What is the Gilmore’s record on education?

Although Gilmore is now seeking a legislative position, he does not have a record as a legislator.  Here are the offices he has held.

• Chair, Republican National Committee, 2001-2002
• Virginia Governor, 1998-2002
• Virginia Attorney General, 1994-1997
• Commonwealth’s Attorney for Henrico County, 1988-93

So Gilmore’s record on education must be viewed primarily by what he accomplished in his four years as governor.  What did he do?  As governor, Gilmore:

• Increase spending for education by 53 percent (from here).
• In 1999, Gilmore proposed and signed into law legislation that reduced tuition at public colleges and universities by 20%. Gilmore also commissioned a Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education (see here) that studied accountability and governance of public colleges and universities. Gilmore’s Commission authored the first blueprint for decentralized regulatory and administrative authority to some universities in return for agreements to meet agreed upon performance objectives.  (from here)

Note that Blue Ribbon Commissions consists mostly of people representing the institutions who receive control of the taxpayer’s money.

Bob Marshall (Project Vote Smart synopsis here).

Marshall, on the other hand, does have a voting record.  Here is a list of Marshall’s recent votes on education issues from Project Vote Smart.  In each case, Marshall voted as a conservative.

Marshall is clearly on record as putting the decision of parents, not those of government officials, first in the education of children.  And he has actively supported school choice for years.

Other Views

Spank that Donkey thinks Gilmore will win (see here), and he lauds Gilmore’s contribution to higher education (here).

The right-wing liberal has has a different take on Gilmore’s contribution to higher education (here and here).

Now At The Podium compares Gilmore with Marshall (here).

The Family Research Council takes note of Marshall’s position on HPV vaccination (here).