WEEKEND QUOTABLES

Lily Eskelsen Garcia

NEA Pres. Lily Eskelsen Garcia

”For students in all types of schools—traditional, charter or magnet—the key is having a sound structure for oversight and accountability, while providing educators with autonomy to create great learning environments for their students.” -- Education Votes

Nicholas Kristof

Can’t we at least acknowledge that in the case of race, William Faulkner was right: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” -- N.Y. Times

Arthur Levitt, former chairman of the SEC

"The perception of Wall Street money going to state and city officials potentially undermines the faith of citizens and investors. Political contributions by any entities that do business with pension funds tends to destroy the confidence that is so fundamental to these markets....Contributions from firms to chief executives of states and cities violates the spirit of the law and it just looks awful...Maybe that’s how business is done in the municipal world, but it certainly smells.” -- Crain's

David Sirota

 The SEC rule prohibits firms from earning management fees from pensions if those firms' executives make political donations to public officials overseeing those pension systems. Emanuel and his administration appoint trustees to the boards of the Chicago city pension systems. -- IBT