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Flypaper

It's the states, stupid (part II)

Michael J. Petrilli
11.20.2008

There's a growing consensus among conservative smarties that the key to the GOP's renewal is getting things done at the state level. Mort Kondracke adds his voice to this chorus in a Roll Call article today:

GOP governors [should] use their posts to show the country how conservatives can solve problems, especially the dismal state of American education and its menacing cousin, lagging American competitiveness. If one governor would fully implement a widely circulated proposal to transform U.S. education -- based on having most children graduate after 10th grade and using the savings to pay teachers like professionals -- it could serve as a model for the nation and bring the United States back to world standards.

He's right that the "Tough Choices or Tough Times" proposal to which he refers would be a good start, though there are other ideas too. But the sentiment is unassailable. GOP governors: stop complaining and start a revolution.

Photograph of Mort Kondracke from Foxnews.com

Tags: Republican Party

President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Michael J. PetrilliĀ is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, executive editor of Education Next, editor in chief of the Education Gadfly Weekly, host of the…

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