Education... Republicans Used to Actually Care About It.

[astonmartin708]

With Trump's new EO, you will see some history on the department stating it was created by an act of congress under Jimmy Carter in 1980.... which is technically true, but what you don't see quite as often is that prior to being made its own department under Carter it was part of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare which was created by Eisenhower and later split into multiple departments. Not only that, but in asking congress to create the department, Eisenhower referenced two preceding Republican admins, and one Democratic one (Harding, Hoover, FDR) that all wanted it to be created.

Eisenhower's goals for his Education office within the larger department were stated thusly:

• I. Improvement of the subject-matter knowledge of science and mathematics teachers.
• 2. Improvement of course content.
• 3. Encouragement of science as a career.
• 4. Increase in the National Science Foundation's graduate fellowship program
• 5. Expansion of other programs:
  • Provide fellowship support for secondary school science teachers (during the summer months)
  • Provide support for graduate students who serve during the school year as teaching assistants
  • Provide support for individuals who wish to obtain additional education so that they may become high school science and mathematics teachers.
• Reduce wasted talent, making sure more kids have aptitude when coming out of school and more are able to go to college.
  • Matching grants to the States to encourage improved State and local testing programs
  • Matching grants to the States to encourage the strengthening of local counseling and guidance services, so that more able students will be encouraged to stay in high school, to put more effort into their academic work, and to prepare for higher education.
  • A program of Federal scholarships for able high school graduates who lack adequate financial means to go to college.
• Improving foreign language teaching
• Strengthening the Office of Education.
  • More information about our educational system on a national basis is essential to the progress of American education. The United States Office of Education is the principal source of such data.
    Much of the information compiled by the Office of Education must originate with State educational agencies. The Administration therefore recommends that the Office of Education be authorized to make grants to State educational agencies for improving the collection of statistical data about the status and progress of education.

 

[watu05]

Let's assume that the DoE is going to be shut down. The feds want to use cuts in DoE funding for their own projects (tax cuts) so the states will have to pick up the shortfall. DoE transfers about $100B to states each year in direct transfers and to support elementary education. That is a big number for states to pick up and it will not help local education. For states that already underfund education, the gap will be enormous.

Hard to see how the proposed cuts in social security taxes, overtime, tips, can off set the cuts to Medicaid, Social Security Trust Fund, and local education. At best it would be a wash for the bottom 60 to 70% and at worst, it will mean worse education, medical care, and eventually retirement income. Throw in tariffs, a recession, and a trade war, and it's hard to be optimistic about the pain being "short term."

 

[watu05]

Certain to increase efficiency, especially since Kelly is such a great guy. Why bother to plan?

Trump said, "I've decided that the SBA, the Small Business Administration, headed by Kelly Loeffler, a terrific person, will handle all of the student loan portfolio. We have a portfolio that's very large," Trump said. Trump signs order aiming to close the Education Department
The federal student loan portfolio – which manages about $1.6 trillion in loans for roughly 43 million borrowers – is currently overseen by the Education Department's office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). That office has been gutted by the recent raft of buyouts, early retirements and last week's broad reduction-in-force.

 

[drboobay]

Very simple. Trump is completely ignoring the separation of powers in the constitution.

The merits of the actions are irrelevant. Allowing it to stand means we may as well toss the constitution.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Very simple. Trump is completely ignoring the separation of powers in the constitution.

The merits of the actions are irrelevant. Allowing it to stand means we may as well toss the constitution.

Not to mention his dismantling large portions of the government. Agencies that have been there for 25, 50, 75+ years.

 

[drboobay]

Not to mention his dismantling large portions of the government. Agencies that have been there for 25, 50, 75+ years.

That is for Congress to do. Not the President. Very simple.

He is trampling the constitution and to me this is more than enough for impeachment. They also recently ignored a court order and boasted about it.

Come on folks! This is not America! Wake up.