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Joseph Hoeffel on Education

Former Democratic Rep (PA-13); 2004 former Senate challenger


Voted to increase funding for No Child Left Behind 4 times

I voted four times to increase funding for No Child Left Behind. The Republicans defeated it each time. Specter voted against putting money behind the promises to improve public education.
Source: 2004 PA Senate debate, in Philadelphia Inquirer Oct 3, 2004

Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

Children's Prayers Resolution: Expressing the sense of Congress that schools should allow children time to pray for, or silently reflect upon, the country during the war against terrorism.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Isakson, R-GA; Bill H.Con.Res.239 ; vote number 2001-445 on Nov 15, 2001

Voted YES on requiring states to test students.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would authorize $22.8 billion in education funding, a 29 percent increase from fiscal 2001. The bill would require states to test students to track progress.
Reference: Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH; Bill HR 1 ; vote number 2001-145 on May 23, 2001

Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3.

Hoeffel sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act:

    Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to:

  1. recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period ;

  2. reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and

  3. improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR1036 on Mar 14, 2001

Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.

Hoeffel scores 100% by the NEA on public education issues

The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:

To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.
In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education." The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: NEA website 03n-NEA on Dec 31, 2003

Other candidates on Education: Joseph Hoeffel on other issues:
PA Gubernatorial:
Ed Rendell
PA Senatorial:
Alan Sandals
Arlen Specter
Bob Casey
Chuck Pennacchio
Rick Santorum
Tom Martin

2004 Presidential:
Pres.George W. Bush
V.P.Dick Cheney
Sen.John Kerry
Sen.John Edwards
Ralph Nader

2008 possibilities:
Sen.Hillary Clinton
Sen.John McCain
V.P.Al Gore

2006 Senate retirements:
Jon Corzine(D,NJ)
Mark Dayton(DFL,MN)
Bill Frist(R,TN)
Jim Jeffords(I,VT)
Paul Sarbanes(D,MD)
2006 Senate Races:
(AZ)Kyl v.Pederson
(CA)Feinstein v.Mountjoy
(CT)Lieberman v.Lamont
(DE)Carper v.Protack
(FL)Nelson v.Harris
(HI)Akaka v.Case
(MA)Kennedy vScott vMacdonald
(MD)Mfume v.Cardin v.Steele
(ME)Snowe v.Bright v.Mehnert
(MI)Stabenow v.Butler v.Zandstra
(MN)Kennedy v.Bell v.Klobuchar
(MO)Talent v.McCaskill
(MS)Lott v.Fleming
(MT)Burns v.Morrison v.Tester
(ND)Conrad v.Grotberg
(NE)Nelson v.Kramer v.Stenberg
(NJ)Menendez v.Kean
(NM)Bingaman v.Pfeffer
(NV)Ensign v.Carter
(NY)Clinton v.Spencer vMcFarland
(OH)DeWine vHackett vBrown
(PA)Santorum v.Casey
(RI)Chafee vBrown vWhitehouse
(TN)Ford v.Kurita v.Bryant v.Hilleary
(TX)Hutchison v.Radnofsky
(UT)Hatch v.Ashdown
(VT)Sanders v.Parke v.Drown
(VA)Allen v.Miller v.Webb
(WA)Cantwell v.McGavick
(WI)Kohl v.Vogeler v.Redick
(WV)Byrd v.Lawhorn
(WY)Thomas v.Groutage
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