Top Aide to Bright Says He Supports Cutting Department of Education

(DOTHAN, AL) –   At a campaign stop yesterday in Ozark, Meg Joseph, official Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright, said Bright favors cutting funding to the U.S. Department of Education.

Chief of Staff Joseph, who served as a campaign surrogate for the Congressman, made the announcement at a forum with students at Carroll High School. Andy Wood, Dale County Chair for Martha Roby for Congress represented the Roby campaign at the event.

As reported in the Dothan Eagle, Joseph told the students “I don’t think he’d want to cut the Department of Education right out – it provides $2.9 billion to the state of Alabama — but there are certainly things in the department he would want to cut out or do more efficiently.”

This announcement from the Bright campaign comes days after Bright’s Democrat Party attacked Republican Martha Roby for advocating reductions in wasteful Washington spending and bureaucracy, and returning more federal dollars to the classroom.

“Once again voters are confused by the conflicting positions coming from the Bright campaign,” said Mike Hamilton, Campaign Manager for Martha Roby’s Congressional Campaign. “Residents of Alabama’s Second Congressional District deserve a leader who has strong convictions and stands by them no matter which way the political winds blow.”

Throughout the campaign Bright has staked multiple positions on the key issues of the day. On health care, Bright says he opposes ObamaCare, yet refuses to join with conservative lawmakers in their efforts to repeal the unconstitutional law.

On immigration, Bright initially opposed the tough Arizona bill, saying it “attacks the Constitution.” After taking heat from Second District constituents, Bright backtracked and articulated his support for the Arizona statute.

Bright’s vote for Nancy Pelosi to become Speaker of the House has also come under fire. Bright, who called his vote for Pelosi a “no-brainer,” and recently said he has no regret in supporting her, now claims he won’t vote for Pelosi, an announcement he made after polling data revealed he is trailing Roby.

“With record setting budget deficits, bailouts, buyouts, cash for clunkers and higher taxes, America needs consistent leadership from its elected representatives,” said Hamilton. “They aren’t getting that from their current Congressman. Alabamians won’t have to hold their breath every time Martha Roby goes to the floor to vote.”

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BACKGROUND

“‘I don’t think he’d want to cut the Department of Education right out – it provides $2.9 billion to the state of Alabama — but there are certainly things in the department he would want to cut out or do more efficiently,’ she said.” (“Ozark high school students question politics with campaign reps,” by Ebony Horton, The Dothan Eagle, 10/15/10)