On Monday, The Washington Examiner reported that D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown planned to introduce legislation cutting financial assistance to low-income parents who don’t attend PTA meetings and parent-teacher conferences.
When pressed by reporters at a press conference, Brown said he didn’t have imminent plans to introduce a bill. Reporters asked if The Examiner article was inaccurate. Brown repeated that he hadn’t written a bill.
So here are a few more quotes from this reporter’s phone interview with Brown Friday evening:
• “I plan to introduce something in the next 30 days.”
• “Yes, a bill.”
• “Since I am the chairman of the council and the education committee is under the Committee of the Whole, I have control to have a hearing. I want to reintroduce the bill, and have a hearing, and we’re going to get ideas of how to improve the bill and get it better.”
• “I expect it to be a lively debate.”
Why did Brown back away from his plans? Perhaps he had a change of heart. Perhaps he read The Examiner’s article Monday morning, which quotes several people in the community saying the bill is flawed for many reasons.
Can’t say — he hasn’t told this reporter. Brown’s staff is conferring, and has promised to call shortly.
But when they do, their comments will be accurately reported, as always.
