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IowaPolitics.com: Thompson says feds shouldn't be 'national school board'
7/16/2007

By Chris Dorsey
IowaPolitics.com

OSCEOLA -- The U.S. government has more serious business than serving as a national school board GOP presidential candidate Tommy Thompson said Saturday morning at Redman's Cafe.

"I believe very much education should be handled by the states," the former Wisconsin governor said. "Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota have the best education systems. You don't want the federal government to take over education. Federal government should give its support."

In a morning visit to his 70th Iowa county, Thompson said he wants to delegate the responsibility of education back to the states. He cited, the federal government has enough problems on its hands.

Thompson stressed he worked to improve the quality of education during his our terms as governor. He also touted former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's efforts to make the state an educational leader.

I tried to improve the quality of education and student achievement," Thompson said. "I think I did that."

If the federal government takes over education, strong educational states such as Iowa would suffer as a result, the Republican said in front of a crowd of more than 30 people.

"The worst thing in the world is for Iowa to be dumbed down with the rest of the states if the federal government took over," Thompson said.
IowaPolitics.com Audio: Thompson in Osceola


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