What Does the Head of the DSCC Have against Climate Change Education?

This week, the Senate has been voting on amendments to the re-authorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

On Wednesday, Ed Markey (D-MA) offered an amendment to establish the Climate Change Education Act. The act would institute a competitive grant program aimed at developing and improving educational material and teacher training on the topic of climate change.

The head of the National Center for Science Education strongly supported the amendment:

But the Climate Change Education Act is simply splendid. It puts the federal government's money where its mouth is — and where, in a time when the effects of human-induced climate change are becoming more visible and more disruptive, it ought to be.

The Senate, however, was not quite so supportive. The amendment failed 44 to 53, on a mainly party line vote. 

 

There were a few exceptions, of course.

Two Republicans--Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Mark Kirk (R-IL)--joined Democrats in voting for it.
Three Democrats--Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jon Tester (D-MT)--joined Republicans in voting against it.

I flagged Jon Tester in the title because he is the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. And for the head of the party's campaign committee to vote against this is just shameful.
A few other amendments that failed over the past few days are worthy of note.

Al Franken (D-MN) had an amendment to prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools.

It failed 52 to 45, eight votes shy of the 60-vote threshold required here.

Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:

Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rob Portman (R-OH)

Tim Scott (R-SC) had an amendment to turn Title I funding into a voucher program.

It failed 45 to 51.

Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Cory Booker (D-NJ0 offered an amendment to require a State's report card to include information on the graduation rates of homeless children and children in foster care.

It failed 56 to 40, four votes shy of the 60-vote threshold required here.

12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it:

Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Jim Lankford (R-OK)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Rob Portman (R-OH)