Equality For All

The U.S. Supreme Court will review two cases challenging the affirmative action admission programs at the University of Michigan. The issue in both cases is whether the University’s goal of admitting a diverse student body justifies making race a factor, among others, in admissions decisions. The outcome of the Michigan cases will not only determine whether colleges can continue to level the playing field for women and minorities, but it may also decide the future of affirmative action far beyond university classrooms.

In the next several weeks, there will be major efforts in the House and/or Senate to amend the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to include private-school vouchers. The relatively unknown Florida McKay voucher law is the model for this pro-voucher effort in Congress. One of the McKay law’s most enthusiastic promoters has dubbed the program the “Florida Miracle.” A report released today by PFAW and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund debunks this myth, raising serious concerns about financial abuse and the law’s impact on parents’ rights, special education services and public schools.

Gov. Jeb Bush publicly gave his support to holding a special election later this year in which voters would be asked to reconsider decisions they’ve already made to support an initiative to reduce class sizes in Florida’s public schools. Amendment 9 was approved by the state’s voters last November. People For the American Way was one of the leading partners in the pro-Amendment 9 Coalition to Reduce Class Size.

The $2.23 trillion federal budget that President Bush sent to Congress this week effectively asks House and Senate members to serve as willing accomplices in a scheme that seriously shortchanges children, seniors, low-income families and others who are among the most vulnerable Americans. The president’s new budget demonstrates that the Bush moniker of “compassionate conservative” is a veneer, not the values guiding this White House.