During the course
of his 15-year career in the S.C. General Assembly, Henry Brown frequently
voted in ways that some might consider to be against the best
interests of our children and our schools.
The chart below
lists more than a dozen key votes and issues that highlight Henry Brown's
education record of voting to cut education, against reduced class size,
against money to fix schools, against all-day kindergarten and more.
It's a record he says he's proud of.
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1995:
Henry Brown tried to cut the state education budget.
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When
Brown became the state's first Republican Ways and Means chairman,
he asked state agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent across-the-board,
according to The State. "The sweeping demand, which hit education
especially hard, led critics to question whether Brown …
understands the complexities of state spending or the importance
of higher education."
Source: The
State, 2/1/95
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1988:
Henry Brown voted against reducing class size.
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In 1986, Brown
sponsored a bill to amend the Education Improvement Act to delay
a requirement for a pupil-teacher ratio of 25:1 or less in grades
7-12. Then, in 1988, Brown voted against proposed reductions in
the class size for health instruction courses. Two years later,
he voted to table a Senate amendment to reduce class size for health
instruction courses. The proposal called for class sizes not to
exceed 30 students.
Source: H
3386, 1/29/86; S546, Amendment 3, 2/17/88.
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1999:
Henry Brown voted against $750,000,000 to fix our schools.
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Brown voted
against a state bond bill in May 1999 that included $750 million
for K-12 school construction spread throughout the state. The bill,
which The Post and Courier (5/21/99) characterized as "the
state's first major contribution to school construction funding
in 50 years," passed by one vote. Brown told the media that
he thought the bond bill was unconstitutional: "Constitutionally,
I don't think we can do that because I don't think our debt limit
will allow the state to get into that kind of debt."
Source: S379,
5/20/99; The Post and Courier, 5/21/99.
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1996,
1997: Henry Brown voted against all-day kindergarten.
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In 1996, Brown
voted against a $55 million plan to provide full-day kindergarten
for 5-year-olds. The proposal was part of an effort to make education
more of a priority in the 1996-97-state appropriations bill. In
1997, Brown also opposed as amendment that helps disadvantaged children
gain access to kindergarten.
Source: The
Post and Courier, 2/28/96; H3400 3/5/97
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2000:
Henry Brown wants to kill the U.S. Department of Education.
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"The
Federal Bureaucracy does not belong in local education issues."
Source: HenryBrownforCongress.com.
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1991,
1997: Henry Brown opposed several measures to increase education
funding.
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On a number
of occasions, Brown voted to oppose proposed measures that would
have provided extra income for education. Those measures include
opposition to an increase in excise to fund an Education Improvement
Act, an amendment to a 1991 Bill proposing extra financing for school
construction, and an increase in levies on nuclear waste to pay
for a Children's Education Endowment.
Source: H3297
3/6/97; H3650, Amendment #216 3/14/91; H3400 3/5/97
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1998:
Brown opposed pro-education amendments to the 1998 School Bill.
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In 1998, the
S.C. General Assembly passed a School Accountability Bill, which
included a number of measures to help failing schools, raise education
standards, and provide benchmarks to measure increases in standards.
During the course of the Bill's passage, Brown opposed measures
to equalize public school funding for all districts in South Carolina,
to provide summer classes for failing students, and to help alternative
schools for children with behavioral problems.
Source: H4399
1/28/98
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1989,
1995: Brown used his legislative powers against the best interest
of teachers.
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Brown opposed
measures to improve compensation for teachers in South Carolina,
including compensating teachers for unused sick-leave and continuing
pay and benefits for teachers on sabbatical. In 1995, Brown also
sponsored a Bill which would have abolished tenure positions for
teachers at state sponsored institutions.
Source: H3609
Amendment #12 5/4/89; H3767 3/8/95
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1997:
Brown opposed measures to improve local control over education.
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In 1997, Brown
introduced a bill to limit the ability of local government and school
districts to raise their own revenue to fund school services.
Source: H3397,
H4633 Amendments #41 & #54, 1997
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1999:
Henry Brown opposed aid to disadvantaged college students.
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In 1999, South
Carolina higher education officials asked legislators for extra
funds to help 7,000 of the state's most financial disadvantaged
students gain a place in college. Brown opposed the request.
Source: The
Post and Courier, 1/5/99
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1986:
Henry Brown opposed a bill to put curbs on college hazing.
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In 1986, Brown
was one of only 14 members of the South Carolina General Assembly
who opposed a bill which would have made it unlawful for students
at universities to endanger the health and welfare of their fellow
students through group initiation rites.
Source: H2420
5/8/86
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