Obama: Romney’s Education Cuts ‘Unfair to Our Kids’
Published at
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images(LAS VEGAS) — For the second day in a row President Obama slammed Mitt Romney on education cuts, telling supporters in Nevada his opponent’s budget plan is “unfair to our kids” and “foolish for our future.”
Obama told students at Canyon River High School that Romney would cut federal funding for education by 20 percent to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
“I’ve got a question for Governor Romney. How many teachers’ jobs are worth another tax cut for millionaires and billionaires?” Obama asked. “How many grants and loans for college students are worth a tax cut for Governor Romney, who certainly doesn’t need it?”
Obama touted his administration’s education reforms but said Republicans in Congress, led by Romney’s running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., have blocked efforts to help states hire and retain teachers.
The mention of Republicans in Congress was met with boos from the crowd of roughly 3,000. “Don’t boo. Vote,” Obama fired back.
Obama argued that Romney doesn’t understand the challenges facing teachers, a point his campaign is also making in a new TV ad.
“Governor Romney says we’ve got enough teachers, we don’t need any more. You know, the way he talks about them, it seems as if he thinks these are a bunch of nameless government bureaucrats that — that we need to cut back on. Those are his words,” the president said.
The president was also briefly interrupted by a heckler who was swiftly escorted off the premises. “That young man probably needed a good teacher,” Obama joked.
Earlier today, Obama personally thanked teachers for their hard work as they ready for the new school year.
“I see how hard you guys work and I know you don’t do it for the money. You do it because you really deeply care about these kids,” he told three local teachers, according to pool reports.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio