Focus 580; Open Line with CONGRESSMAN DAVID PHELPS

Well in the second hour of the program as part of our election 2000 effort we are going to have an open line and you can call in and ask the questions that you would like to of David Phelps who is the congressman from Eldorado Illinois. He represents the 19th Congressional District which in compasses in the southeast and part of the east central counties in the Illinois roughly from kohls Clark Moultrie in the good part of Macon County all the way down to the southern tip of the state the southeastern tip of the state which includes his home area which is in Saline County. David Phelps is a lifelong resident of Eldorado. He was a public school teacher and assistant principal in the Harrisburg school district after being graduated from Southern Illinois University and he was appointed in 1980. Getting into politics to fill an unexpired term as the clerk and recorder in his home county Saline County

and he was elected to a full term in 1900 too and then went on and scored somewhat of an upset. And was elected state representative who's a Democrat and a heavily Republican area that had been well he defeated the veteran Republican state representative in an upset in 1984 and went on to serve as state representative until being elected to Congress in one thousand ninety eight serving on the agriculture and small business committees in Congress and he is running for another term in Washington now. Yesterday you had an opportunity to hear from and call in and talk to the Republican challenger James Atherley. But today we will be taking your telephone calls for. The incumbent Democrats David Phelps and I have to make sure that I'm doing the telephone thing. Why push the button on the bottom is that the one that I do put him out there we go. We should have David Phelps on where

they stay but good morning. Jay how are you doing. I'm doing fine it's been a long time since we've seen each other Highsmith good as usual How's all your family everybody thinks everybody is doing well down here but how are you doing a good job there. Well thank you. Thank you. Just to give you a little bit of background I spent about 20 25 years in the journalism and broadcast journalism business in Southern Illinois and obviously had quite a few times to both professionally and personally meet with David Phelps has several times in way. Yeah yeah yeah. So it's good to talk to you this morning. I was so happy that that we were able to arrange this and. And. And Make you available to listeners up in the northern reaches of the congressional export Thanks for the opportunity. Well our telephone numbers are 3 3 3 9 4 5 5. If you're calling from the Champagne Urbana area and then we do have the toll free number for those

in the southern reaches of the listening area which include much of the 19th Congressional District 1 800 2 2 2 9 4 5 5 3 3 3 wy allows 800 2 to 2 W L L will be the telephone numbers to call. One thing I did leave out because I was talking mostly David about your political career but you have also been involved for a long time in the Phelps Brothers Quartet. Your gospel singing group and you've also in your spare time which I'm sure you have plenty of. Written music for many artists including The Oak Ridge Boys and it's been somewhat of a tradition for you I guess. Well at least it was in the state house for you to sing on the House floor at the beginning of sessions. Yeah that's been part of my life I've been I've been singing a long time since we were small children so we still do it on a timely basis when it's worked out with all of our schedules and we it's a

family affair and it's a ministry of gospel music for us and we we have a good time still with it. Great and I still remember when you helped us out with the benefit that you performed for the fund we were starting down in in Cartersville the Educational Fund that we did the telethon for after the teachers had died. Yeah I remember the day actually that you know we did that through through the Lions Club. And again thanks for that that we thank you. That's great. Well let's talk about some of the issues. As we wait for some phone calls some of the issues that are coming up in this campaign and this election year. You first of all have had very close ties to education as I mentioned you were involved in educational administration in the Harrisburg school district. And you have also played quite a role. The state government level in education as

a member of the house. One of the questions which has come up in the presidential campaign as education has become one of the the topics of discussion is what role should the federal government and what role can the federal government play in education which is usually a matter for local school boards and the state which is more directly involved in the funding and educational programs on the local level. How do you see the federal government's role in education. Well Jay thanks it's a very important question for our listeners and the general public to be informed about their candidates on this particular issue. Education is probably the most talked about issue and everyone. I don't know one candidate that I've ever heard of as have been in this business 20 years has said anything out against education that it's not important be foolish to do that so it's really recognize and anybody does any

polls or stays in touch with their constituents would know that very obviously. As I was in in the State House the State representative I was very fortunate to chair the Elementary Secondary Education Committee. And then as a as a teacher my first job out of college when I graduate Massai. I taught around four years and was assistant principal as you said hairspray unit 3 district valuable years and my whole family mother three brothers were all in education have two that are presently public school administrators My wife's a public school teacher of English in high school here in our hometown. So it's very it's an investment that we must you know have a return on and it's the best investment we can make for the future I. I know that this issue is for is how much involvement should the federal level play. It's probably not a new issue. It goes back and one of the things that probably perhaps maybe help distinguish between the two party you know a lot of illogical stands

is the you know how much government involvement in any area little known education but I just happen to believe that that most and I'm going to big majority of what happens in education does belong to the authority of the state. And you know they should legislate and. Direct their funds according to the priorities of the people in the state and those that represent the general public would be reflected I'm sure those priorities. So that's happened I think the 14 years I served in the Illinois House however I believe that the federal government does play a role on a universal level. You know when we have children that graduate from our states our little communities within the state you know they end up competing on no nonny no international but international global level. And to say that

that one state you know might not measure up to competition of students and that maybe have more resources or or may have advantages in whatever area that might be whether it's computers tech technology. You know it puts some students as a compromising situation and so there's where the federal government should play some role and establish some uniform measurement some achievement skills that that are at least uniform throughout the nation. And you know whether it's reading whether it's writing math there ought to be a standard level in which we expect students at certain levels certain grade levels to be able to at least reflect in a national test. I think that's only logical. And so therefore I think right now the

federal government we distribute and fund to the states around 8 percent. The funds for education which is not a large amount I think we ought to do a little better. But that's not to say you know we should have some strings attached to some money that we put to every state and say that there should be a measurement level of expectations that the taxpayers have in all children in every state where there may be one state that have a big age and an advantage we want to be sure there is money that shows at certain basic skills are reached at certain levels. Head Start is a good example of what I think a good program that gives kids an equal opportunity at a certain age preschool and otherwise to have that equal basis of opportunity and and to get started in a right way. Even if we try to do that from an equal funding measure if we know they're still going to be some disparity out there because the mere fact of tax bases that

are better than others some states that are richer and and whatever other demographics that are hard to control and we should not necessarily mandate control but we we need a general uniform understanding that basic skills are to be expected at certain levels and measurements should reflect those connected with that if the federal government does dictate that this is a basic level. It's obviously going to take some work on the parts of some districts to get up to that level. For any number of reasons which may be socio economic It may be geographic location and maybe the tax base or whatever should Congress then put the dollars behind it to fund whatever's necessary to build the programs up. As you said a national thing. You know if you put the mandate down is should in the dollars follow. Yes they should they very much should and that's one of the biggest failings of now only federal but state government. You know there were state mandates that were unbelievable the sun even reflected that the federal government.

When you get into special education in areas like that that we know there are special needs and. In efforts that are expensive. For that matter to make sure that all kids because of their handicap or disability should not be left out of the mainstream and be treated like all children so you know those those are questions that come in the debate but I I feel that. At the same time we have strings attached. As I said with some funding that shows that the school district in the state should measure up to the basic level or expectations uniformly throughout the states at the same time. Money that we see in the blogs that we make that that for school districts and states to measure up to certain levels should have enough resources. And there's where wherein lies the toughest part of trying to find a balance. While we've got to have people that will that work together in Congress that

come from all diversity and kinds of diverse situations different states like you said different kinds of resources and the contrast in things to work with versus poor states or poor school districts in the state and try to get all that equalize is is one great challenge in our There will be some mistakes made. Should there be improvement. Yes there should and constantly That's what we should make our business be about. So mandates without funding. It is not good government that that has happened. But you know when used you know I had different constituents to when I had town meetings. I had them to to list and point out what those mandates are and when it comes right down to what the mandates without funding there's not very many people that can list a long list. If much of any that is mandated without some funding now is there

enough funding becomes a debate that mandates without funding period are very exceptional and I'm sure there are some I can point out a few instances but for the most part the programs that are priority in and out are focused on problematic situations have some funding it's just a matter of how much we need. 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 in the champagne Urbana area or 1 800 to 2 2 9 4 5 5 you're invited to join in this discussion we intended to be an opportunity for you to ask the questions of the candidate that you would like to hear answered. Often we hear people saying that well reporters just don't ask the questions that I want answers to. Well this is an opportunity for you to call in and ask a question of Democratic Congressman David Phelps who represents the 19th can grow. Tional district and would like to have another term in that office 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 1 800 2 2 2 9 4 5

5 and Congressman we do have some callers lining up so let's take one on line one if you will right now. Hi you're on the air with the congressman David Phelps. Go ahead please. I not. Let me give you three hardball questions about education. First to remind you that no place for the federal government I their mandate for standards of any sort. So what is big suggested at the federal level is just all only advisory testing. And I'm sure you know that I just want to make sure the viewers were clear about that one. So the first part of my concern is that we understand that the tests that we currently have now are very thin and very simple and don't measure very well. The learning in reading maps etc. in the sciences particularly. Also very poor in the

social fighting area and that's true of all the R.S. tests while they better they are not the they are not the final answer to the accountability question. So the first set of my first concert is to address the question of how will we make sure that testing increases to be useful for accountability in the second part is to look at the question of the input the and the standards of a political and religious side which I know we made fun of Kansas for taking of evolution out of the standards of Illinois we have taken the word evolution of the not the concept out of the standards. And so what's your thought about that I know you come from. You said a religious background. And thirdly I want to give you the hard ball question of what do we do in special ed it is exceedingly expensive as you know and we can continue to fund it is the level we have how will we ration that and get them on a cellphone I'll listen a

little bit make sure that they don't get off OK and you get all those. Well the first one Id be reminded of he asked about the measurement being how it could be accurate right. BURDETT Well yeah the gist on the first one is I got it was first of all that the federal test. Basically it's the federal government's advisory only not its mandates and that the current tests both federal and state are necessarily good measures of learning and thus accountability. Right well sir thank you for your questions are very very direct and to the point I mention when I say the very few people in a town meeting when you when you ask them give me a mandate that you're upset about. There's a lot of him hauling around they can't focus on the calls. Quite frankly there there aren't. Like you said many there are a few mandates.

You and I can discuss that that a lot of people would not maybe recognize as mandates that were you know I think I've been afraid of mandates. But but there are some a few special education money and American disabilities you know there are mandates. But as if you and I are thinking of them in the span of mandates how they're interpreted they're they're practically advisory you're correct. And I think that you know should we make that tougher or more direct mandates. Well to me it's it's a matter of money again. If if we could produce enough revenue to make sure these mandates without a doubt and the states and school districts had the resources to work with to to create the expectation we were gearing up for the mandates to be a different story. But I think what we're looking at from a federal standpoint at least is a pattern some sort of idea a general idea of what's going on

out there because we know the situations are so diverse with each state and contrast that we have in demographics and the capabilities and resources and and all those things which I think the federal government realizes and to do anything else you know then you get into micromanaging which the states are going to you know are already going to object to. So there's a fine line to how much we we demand versus how much we're giving in order for them to answer those demands and that will always be a I'm not trying to beg a question just tell me that's that's the eternal. Challenge we've had in the mud sure if that is going to change. Special education is expensive when you when you're talking about some of these children with the extreme problems that we see and some have minor problems and comparatively speaking but still have needs to be addressed and need special help. We're talking about one expensive endeavor and that is why the funding levels which are not

excusable should be feasible but why they have not reached the affective levels. Because it is a matter of competition of funds you know we're taking from one pocket and we're allowing the other areas general classrooms and measurements and things we asked for kids to participate in and to reach his judgment levels can suffer from because we're you know reaching for one pocket and put another soul to be able to have an insufficient amount of funds is really what he gets when he gets into. There has not been at least one i. When I represented the state of Illinois and state represented there there was not I should say no general agreement consensus in the Senate especially that we should increase the special education funding because then you got into how we get more revenue for education and then you get into the

debate that still exists between property taxes versus education being funded by income taxes or or consumer taxes or whatever else that's on the table. That always has been part of that debate. And I and the second question I was AJ when he was you was wondering about the politics of religion. You know I'm sorry. Some districts or some states removing the word evolution but not necessarily the. The effect effectively removing the concept of evolution. You know it's ironic distain time that those that seem to be the most avid from a religious philosophy and not want values to be you know highly on the scale of having importance in the schools are the very ones that are talking about that. You pretty much have already embraced

looking at private Christian Procul schools. I haven't given up on the public schools yet. Those that have taken their children out for whatever reasons that is their business and so forth and I understand that. But you know I did. I just feel like that. Separation of Church and State is still very important. Let me just tell you that I do understand the outrage and I am high myself. I reach a very concerned level my children are pretty much through school. I got my last one still in college but you know I feel like that you know if we have language in textbooks it talks about you know evolution. Many people in the religious world think of evolution is wanting to defer people's belief from God or from the creation. Well that's that's a misunderstanding. But if you look at some of the textbooks readings we have for children now in the last several decades it

does lead one to believe that that is all they are trying to teach is that we have animals we have the human species that has gone through all kinds of evolution and evolved through looks through different shapes sizes and forms. And adapts to all kinds of different situations because of the climate factor and all kinds of thing that's part of education. And I don't think those can be disputed. But to look at evolution in a context saying that we we came from amoeba and there was no creator involved in putting this world in order is where I think some of the religious setting has a has a good reason to challenge education today in public schools because this should not necessary be mandated to mention that God created this world this whole universe and everything that we know about.

But at least that should be open for discussion and teachers not prohibited to let children express themselves and saying this talk about evolution but you know I believe that all of this was created Now how is evolution in the order of creation. That's the way we should be discussing it although there are some people that just don't believe in God period. Now should we all of us not be able to talk about what we believe strongly. You know in a classroom setting just because there are very few that may not believe in God period and yet they want us to believe that evolution is more than just a change of species that it was a matter of how life started. So there's where the dispute is and but I would like to keep church you know even though I think discussions about those things should be open and not prohibited about the beginnings of God. Whoever believes that the classroom and be able to speed and debate evolution in the meaning of non sacred from the standpoint of God's

beginning. But you know it. Beyond that I don't. I don't feel it. I don't remember ever having prayer in the classroom. In my case through 12 I remember prayers at a graduations but I don't I don't remember and I remember having preachers that are ministers of a different faith would come to our auditorium Lyceum Zin and gatherings when the whole school got together for whatever assembly. But there was not a matter of classroom prayer. We did pledge allegiance and things of that sort but I never felt like I couldn't pray. No one prohibited me from doing that before to serve my locker in my room my desk or whatever. But I may not been out loud and the teacher didn't direct it so there's where we get into difference you know. No prayer in the public school as a lot of people want to have it now has never been there anyway. Yeah as a matter of as. And these stores these kids these problems of school shootings. They're bringing these problems with them from home and the very people that are that are really insistent

on this being part of the curriculum. Although I sure uphold prayer in every way a voluntary form they can and their whole day to be able to have as part of the curriculum and mandate that to be part of it is is not where I want prayer to be tough my child if I can't do it at home in the same school in my church in my home. You know what's what's he doing at school trying to make a display out of it if that's the purpose. Yeah so you know we get all kinds of debates and stuff. Sure. Well let's let's take another call. Congressman David Phelps represents the 19th. Congressional District and is Democrat from Eldorado seeking re-election and the phone lines are open at 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 for 1 800 2 2 2 9 4 5 5 for calls for Congressman Phelps we have a caller from Urbana on line now in line to go ahead you're on the air. Oh yeah. Do you have any end and for us and some that find not saying but come Monday

that covers the Medicare because they there is a little but to just the money that goes that saves cancer chemotherapy. Well I don't I don't I don't serve on a committee that directly. Yeah. On Medicare but ma'am as a member of Congress I am a member of the ROOL Health Caucus and one of the things that we have really discussed this issue is trying to restore any cuts from Medicare that was maybe overstated in the budget balancing acts. You know when they balance the budget that was in 97 0 just prior from my my entry into Congress which I I believe you know I would have supported the Balanced Budget Act. But there is. Oh asked CA that's a

Web side. And that was the purpose of this list to save Medicare a bunch of money because kill it he will. Therapy is very serious. So and they said that they had. October 1st had dead line. Well it hasn't happened. But it is something to be careful about and watch out for because right. What it is a lot of cancer centers would have to close. Right ma'am. I hear you and it's very important it's priority for as I'm concerned that we salvage and restore the levels that are necessary to treat people in the crevasse

traffic terminal diseases and that is very important I mean let me just tell you one of the dilemmas that we're facing now. You know years ago and the funding levels of Medicare that's being fed by the revenue and how we all pay for it and check often we're overworking So security as well as Medicare in a way a way that's working. Originally you know we didn't have the capabilities technology or the medications and all these medical breakthroughs were not in existence and so the pace of feeding the revenue that's feeding the source of Medicare is not necessarily keeping up with all the treatments and procedures that we have available and medications and everything else that's expensive because we've been through research and new breakthroughs that you know thank God for all that's happened. But but payment for all those you know procedures is a great challenge with the pool of funds that we're looking at and so that's

why the surplus funds that we're having and we can't squander that another program to be sure we will stabilize so Security Medicare. Take another call from Martinsville Illinois on line 4 Go ahead you're on the air with David Phelps. Yeah I thank you. There's a lot of crude oil production within your district. And even though prices have rebounded lately this industry suffered irreparable damage which has led to a loss of 2 million barrels a day of domestic oil production. And I just wondered if you support measures that would promote an increase in domestic oil production including marginal well tax credits. And please specifically concentrate on domestic oil production. OK. Great question sir. I'm very supportive of that and you can check the record on being co-sponsor measures to help the mystical because in the Wabash Valley which I serve. Southern Illinois

in central Illinois in the wild west valley area coal oil and gas is you know is part of agriculture products of course I was certain it. That's why our culture is clean and those resources are very valuable to our economy always have been. Do we have you know dips and rises in the production and activity of all those industries I've seen the Clean Air Act take away almost over 5000 coal miners. And some part of central because of the high sulfur content and compliance to meet the clean air standards which is a shame. You know we got the technology now to take that sulfur out and we're looking at the face to the Clean Air Act and perhaps some of these coal mines can come back because the technology that exists but those utility companies had invested in complying with the standards and chose not to build scrubbers and had to go switch to low sulfur

coal and got long term contracts. So we've got to get through all that to see what happens here real soon as we're approaching it here in the 21st century. But oil faces the same reason I mention it compares and you know means the same thing because we have competition. That's International in and from foreign lands. And you know last year in April when I was you know what there was only and then a flight to Washington D.C. I bought gasoline there 78 cents a gallon. And so here year later it's you know it got up to a dollar a five over there so it didn't seem like that makes sense because we it's a volatile market in that period of time when it was so cheap. It was good for the consumer. Our domestic producers practically closed down and many of them still have not regained. And I and I have had met with a woman and in touch with the old Gas Association in fact I'm speaking at their regional

actually. I think it's a tri state meeting in Mount Vernon Illinois just 25 October I think a couple weeks now. So to go over these very issues but it's it's very important that we we least try to give them the tools where they can compete. Because of that I want to get too dependent where we are to depend on foreign oil. And if we if we lose our domestic capabilities that puts us in I think compromised our national security is a very good question. Thank you much. OK. Thank you very. Much for the call and we still have time to get a couple of more calls in if you want to ask a question of Congressman David Phelps 3 3 3 9 4 5 5 3 3 3 locally and anywhere else you can listen to us on the air. 800 2 2 2 9 4 5 5. That's 800 to 2 2 W I L L. Well Congressman we got the news this morning that the Food and Drug Administration gave its approval to the RU 486 the

so-called abortion pill yesterday. Those who are against abortion are vowing to fight that approval. Those on the other side of the issue are saying including Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority Foundation that it represents. Triumph of science over what she describes as quote medical McCarthyism unquote. And this basically gives women in the United States access to a pharmaceutical abortion option that has been available in France Britain China and a number of other countries just like to ask for your reading on this your or your feelings along these lines. Well you know it's been very clear my record as a public official throughout my whole career I've been a strong pro-life position and I value life and feel like that the very moment of inception is when life is should be recognized and therefore treated as such. We're going

through you know in this country for the last two or three decades this issue has has dominated the the the scene especially on the political scene. And but you know right now the law of the land is Roe versus Wade. And I know that when it comes up for issues such as public funding for abortions which I've resisted and I've opposed any of the other bills that that have a direct impact on where your physicians would be as a voting member of Congress or in the state legislature on issues that affect abortion you know. The fact the matter is the law is that Roe versus Wade uphill and so woman does have a right for abortion. You know I disagree with that on a personal level and I will try to resist legislation that that I think threatens life at

every level. This is an example of more I should say in a diminished way that some people are trying to say is a danger rose in the first trimester if we as we saw the part. Partial Birth Abortion has been part of our debate. Those are for some concern are obscene ways to to approach control of a woman not having a child. But you know. These medication we're going to see all kinds of new technological medical breakthroughs that's going to make this issue a little more gray for some people because they're saying now and now what he's saying it's before possibly this is before the heartbeat or. Or is it you know but so we're at least reducing by recognizing the very problem that people have been in accepting doing away with

life. It still is a woman's choice and that's what the whole debate's about. I feel like it's it's more than just a woman's choice. Yes it's her body and it's She's the only species of human that that that carries the baby. But there's some responsibility of I think the father has some authority in some decision making it also. And many lives are ruined because the mistakes that are made in and facing these decisions but you know I've always been taught and believe that you know we get ourselves into problems and we got to be big enough to to to live and handle the predicaments we put ourselves in most of self-inflicted problems that we have in life and should not be. You know determined by an easy way out that especially when it threatens life. So you know this new drug is going to be going to bring on a new way of wave

of debate that says now where we're at in a very very early. If not even before life is created. Some are going to be able to say I dissent and believe that if if if if actual life was created. You know the morning after but medication does not make any any better although I have to say. You know it's more disturbing to see when you're taking arms and legs out you know either by an abortion. And and comparatively speaking. This may be less you know resistant by some and I'm sure that's the idea. Well we have a caller from Chicago on line 4 and you're on the air with the congressman David Phelps Go ahead please. OK. Thank you. I don't. I want to return to the business of education. I'm originally from New Jersey. My older brother went to college on a story

because I was the cheapest place to go. Country where you could get a college education. Back in 1940 41 paid about $10 a semester or something like that. And he when he got down there he found out that students from the yard were so far ahead of everybody else in the country. The students in the college that. That all the rest of the students basically were handicapped coming and coming to college and comparison with us from New York when I came to charge in Chicago. Forty eight forty nine I found roughly the same thing except that it was New York and California students who were so far ahead of the rest that students in the rest of the country. Now since then. Well during that period at least in the York State they were having Regents exams for the for

public school students and this is what kept the standards up and what kept the teaching up and so on. Since then they've eliminated the regents and and the New York State has fallen back with the rest of the country and Cal and California has fallen back ever since Reagan was governor. He reduced funding and it's been going downhill until this year. But it's a couple years ago now. What I find is that there is basic. No well to provide sufficient funding for schools in Illinois right and most of the rest of the country a year or two ago the legislature and the governor working tried to ating themselves because they were setting a minimum of forty five hundred dollars or thereabouts of funding for students and this is insufficient to give anyone a decent education in Illinois. You have students up and up in rich areas like and plenty are where something like fifteen thousand eight hundred thousand dollars are being provided to students this.

They don't provide all that money in order to give them an inferior education. And. What what has to be recognized I think by you and the rest of the public on the Congresses that money has to be appropriated and there's no way you're getting around it especially these days. When we're up against. The markets are fine and facing competition from the rest of the world then you're getting people not educated enough to fill jobs in this country right. Well sir you said so much that I agree with that I don't know if I need to elaborate but I'll just tell you that the first thing you stated was I think you painted a clear and accurate picture of the contrast and difference between rural and urban settings because you know I remember my father was born in 20. After going through the Depression.

Living in rural settings or farm states like Missouri in deep southern Illinois where I'm from you know even right now we haven't really tasted the but you might say the best of the economic times. Comparatively speaking to the metropolitan areas so it's almost like the good economy feeds the the best well established and bills that have been depressed may see a little bit of an improvement because the good economy that rubs off a little bit but that never reached the expectations of what to expect you know to look at from the standpoint of good economy which then feeds you know your health care but education institutions so. That's been with us since you know part of our history of our country which is unfortunate we haven't got a control grasp on that from the standpoint of equal education because those little differences do exist in New York versus Missouri I can guarantee you there was a different school that I went to school with

MS. I used to do this from New York and Chicago and inverses little rural settings. We were at a great disadvantage in many ways. But. You know after having said that you know what here's what it comes down to is force funding you know money is the answer there's no doubt about that. But here's what makes it tougher from the standpoint of tax payers if you serve where I've served in the state legislature and chaired the Education Committee when the debate came about and I supported Ed. in his endeavor to shift property tax base from Sforza funding education to the income tax us still think that's the answer. Better way on up it's the answer but it's a great improvement because people are concerned about. We keep increasing education funding whether it's to your level of satisfaction or mine. We doing keep increasing it and lot of people the general public are frustrated that we can't tell much difference you know. You keep throwing money at this and you know what are we producing. Well you know I think we're producing a pretty good

product versus what we get from the standpoint of discipline that the parents send us in the way of their kids. Some of the problems that we have with drugs knowing the kids but the parents that have sent them with some of their handicaps are because of some of their you know you might say wild oats that they sowed through the years. We got all kinds of problems in the public school system that a greater amount of money may or may not be able to fix but we're sure not going to do it without revenue that's for sure. Can I kind of cut it for a minute. Quickly we're just going abroad of time in just a couple of minutes here. It's only not only funding for the schools but the parents have to be taken into account and help. There are many of them are so ignorant. There is no help and there are hundreds of their kids getting a proper education and also the. Consensus where the kids

have to live in very poor circumstances which is a hindrance to their education also. You're exactly right when the biggest thing my wife is an English teacher right now just left her class and went by to get the automobile and I need to take the service in and I choose mission too about these kids that parents are you know insisting that they be in her high excellent standard class. The one that's prepared for college or orientation type English class because they don't what they want to their child wants to be you know looked at as you know as a high achiever whereas they can't even handle the mid-level and the parents are not interested in you know you know how the child is doing and what they can handle versus you know the the trademark or the the self-esteem that they're looking at it from from the accelerated level. Yeah. So those are things that parents are going to have to

cooperate with for us to be able to have quality teaching. Well we do have a quota that's just going to have to I guess hang because. He's about out of time and we apologize for that but I think the answer you think Jay we did get in. Well if we if we can do it in just a minute let's see from champagne. Go ahead on line one if we can do this quickly. Yeah. I appreciate your remarks about your pro life in all forms. What's your stance then on the death penalty and war. OK we differ from the living. Why did the fuzz about the death penalty your stance on the death penalty and about war and if they differ from a view of life wife stands right. I am for the death penalty and I and I feel like that you know there are Scriptural background and support for that. However you know it's saying that some of the people make a decision on who dies may not be any better than a person that they're making a judgment on that. But the good Lord I think you

know you know knows all about that and will judge us accordingly. But someone has to make order of things or has to be rules and has to be order in society and some people have to pay the ultimate when they ripped when they when they take the ultimate going against your stance on a pro life in all forms. Yes pro-life is you know you know from the standpoint of. What I treasure in life you know you have sometimes you have to take a lot to preserve a life. But that only has to be decided by the order in our society. Not just someone making decision to sell there's all kinds of laws that have to be gone through whether they be good or bad but now we have technology that says you know DNA can also prove that you're innocent as well as guilty. OK well we're going to have to leave it there unfortunately on that because that that obviously could it could be a very much expanded to get elaborate I'm happy. Yeah. But we do have to go in. Congressman it's been very good talking with you again and thanks for making the time available.

Apologize for some of the longer answer is that these are good subjects and issues and the colors are to be commended for their insight. All right well I'm sure we'll talk to you again as the campaign goes on. Jay thanks have a good day. All right thank you. But up it's Congressman David Phelps 19th District Democrat and running for re-election. And the next opportunity you'll have it will be coming up in October to again hear from the candidates in the 19th Congressional District with tell you more about that. So stay tuned and listen.