2016 Democrats on School Vouchers

2016 Dem Position Hillary Clinton Senator: 2001-2009 Joe Biden Senator: 1973-2009 VP: 2009- Martin O’Malley Governor: 2007-2015 Jim Webb Senator: 2007-2013 Elizabeth Warren Senator: 2013- Bernie Sanders Rep.: 1991-2007 Senator: 2007- Lincoln Chafee Senator: 1999-2007 Governor: 2011-2015 School vouchers Opposed school vouchers. “I’ll tell you why I won’t support vouchers. Number one, I don’t think they’re constitutional. But number two, I don’t see how you would implement them without having a lot of people get vouchers for schools that would be teaching things antithetical to American values.” [Remarks at NYSUT, 4/27/08] 1997: Voted against consideration of a bill providing vouchers to DC students. [S.Amdt. 1249, S. 1156, Vote 260, 9/30/97] Did not appear to support vouchers. “Ehrlich…likes charter schools, merit pay for teachers and vouchers. O'Malley's focus is on strengthening traditional public schools, improving teacher pensions and attracting highly qualified principals to struggling schools with signing bonuses. He supports charter schools, but doesn't believe they are the solution.” [Baltimore Sun, 9/17/06] Voted against DC opportunity scholarship restoration, which included funds for DC private school vouchers. [S.Amdt. 3456, S.Amdt. 3452, H.R. 1586, Vote 53, 3/16/10; Department of Education, 2010] Voted against DC opportunity scholarship restoration, which included funds for DC private school vouchers. [S.Amdt. 3456, S.Amdt. 3452, H.R. 1586, Vote 53, 3/16/10; Department of Education, 2010] 2010: Opposed school vouchers. “On the subject of the commissioner herself, Chafee said, If I m elected, I will sit down with Deborah Gist and compare our education philosophies. He noted that he has opposed charter schools and school vouchers since he served as a U.S. senator.” [Providence Journal, 9/28/10] 2000: Opposed school vouchers. “Chafee has failed to pick up a single union endorsement in the race despite his support for key labor issues such as increasing the minimum wage and opposing school vouchers.” [Associated Press, 1/10/00]