Quel Drama at ESEA Markup

This morning the Senate started marking up the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2011 (ESEA), but they didn’t get very far. About an hour and a half into the meeting, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) objected to the hearings. Senate rule XXVI (5)(a) says that when the Senate is in session, no committee can meet for more than two hours after the Senate has convened, without special leave. Getting leave to hold a meeting is usually a non-issue — the committee asks for permission on the floor of the Senate, everyone says "aye," and people move on. But not today. Sen. Paul objected and the chairman of the committee, Tom Harkin (D-IA), was forced to adjourn the meeting.

Quel drama.

The Senate rule shenanigans signal that this bill is more contentious than most — and I’m saying that in today’s political climate. The bill was proposed by the Harkin but joined by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY). In their opening comments both men lamented that it was not the law either one wanted, but a compromise between both sides. Sen. Harkin said it lacked accountability provisions he would prefer. Sen. Enzi said that the bill still had too many accountability provisions for his taste. The revised bill was only released on Monday, but by Wednesday there were more than 150 amendments to consider (seventy-five of them from Sen. Paul).

As drastic as his actions were, Sen. Paul just might have a point. This morning, the National Women’s Law Center joined civil rights leaders, education reform groups and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in saying the bill’s weak accountability system is a major barrier to our organizations’ support. The Center also issued its own letter to the committee in charge of ESEA, letting them know that in light of the barriers that girls of color face in school, their alarming low graduation rates, and the resulting impact, today’s debate in Committee should be just the beginning. Congress must address the fundamental flaws in this bill as the process moves forward.

Harkin vowed to return after the Senate adjourns for the night or (at the very latest) bright and early tomorrow morning. See you back here at 8 a.m.!