Perry's Plan For Closing ED Would Not Be Simple

The Huffington Post (11/16, Resmovits) reports on Texas Gov. Rick Perry's (R) calls for eliminating the Department of Education, focusing on his "fact sheet" which calls for replacing ED with "no-strings-attached block grants -- a system that basically hands states federal dollars in exchange for nothing." However, "But dismantling any government agency, let alone the Education Department, is far more complicated than Perry makes it sound. It would require a vote in Congress that even Ronald Reagan could not drum up." The plan would also require the overturning of court decisions requiring equal, non-discriminatory support for minorities. The Post continues to relate Duncan's past statements about his views on ED's role, and to explore the potential impact of closing ED.