FACT CHECK: Vitter Flip-Flopped on Common Core

Summary: Before he was against Common Core, David Vitter was for it. In August 2014 Vitter said he supported Common Core – but then months later flip-flopped and said in December 2014 that he opposed it. Even fellow Republicans say they “can’t trust David Vitter to handle our children’s education.”

 

VITTER CALLED HIMSELF A STRONG SUPPORTER ON COMMON CORE…

 

HEADLINE: David Vitter Endorses Use Of Common Core, Senator Chides Governor For Efforts To Shelve Tests. [The Advocate, 8/2/14]

 

Vitter Endorsed Common Core Standards “So Strongly On Friday That Even Common Core Backers Were Surprised.” “Jindal wants the state out of Common Core. He is trying to shelve tests planned for the upcoming school year and earlier this year compared the education overhaul to centralized planning in Russia. But Vitter, who in June declined to spell out his views on the academic goals, endorsed them so strongly on Friday that even Common Core backers were surprised. ‘As governor I would take an aggressive, hands-on approach, get curriculum and implementation right,’ according to the senator’s statement.” [The Advocate, 8/2/14]

 

…AND FLIP-FLOPPED JUST FOUR MONTHS LATER

 

HEADLINE: Vitter Reverses Course, Now Opposes Common Core. [Associated Press, 12/1/14]

 

Vitter Claimed He Now Opposed Common Core Four Months After Saying He “Strongly Supported” The Standards. “U.S. Sen. David Vitter has changed his mind on Common Core, announcing Monday that he now opposes the multistate education standards that only four months ago he said he strongly supported.” [Associated Press, 12/1/14]

 

VITTER TOUTED WORK ON LAW THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR COMMON CORE

 

Vitter Touted His Role Getting No Child Left Behind Passed. “Congressional candidate David Vitter paid a stop Tuesday to the Children’s’ Museum Treehouse to spread his message of educational reform. Vitter touted his role in getting the No Child Left Behind act made into law and said more must be done to aid in school voucher and special-education-resource issues.” [Daily Town Talk, 9/1/04]

 

Vitter Defending The Mandatory National Tests And Expanded Role Of The Federal Department Of Education Passed Under No Child Left Behind. “The federal No Child Left Behind Act, which expands the U.S. Education Department’s powers over local school districts, has the approval of three of the four candidates in Louisiana’s 2004 U.S. Senate race. State Rep. Arthur Morrell, D-New Orleans, is the only one of the four candidates to say Congress made a mistake by approving the act, which gave the Education Department the authority to demand that the nation’s public school districts administer annual tests in math and reading and give parents the results in a report card. The other three candidates – U.S. Reps. David Vitter, R-Metairie, and Chris John, D-Crowley, along with state Treasurer John Kennedy, D-Madisonville – say demanding increased accountability was the right thing to do.” [Associated Press, 10/10/04]

 

REPUBLICANS AGREE –WE CAN’T TRUST DAVID VITTER ON EDUCATION

 

Republican Scott Angelle: “We Can’t Trust David Vitter To Handle Our Children’s Education.” “At the only debate that Vitter has participated in, Angelle turned a discussion of Common Core into an indictment of Vitter’s character: ‘We can’t trust David Vitter to handle our children’s education. He’s not only been wrong on fornication, he’s been wrong on taxation and he’s been wrong on education,’ he said.” [National Public Radio, 10/15/15]