David Vogt on the Common Core repeal bill

I interviewed Delegate David Vogt last night, primarily about an email blast he sent out regarding the Common Core repeal bill he co-sponsored. Here's the summary of the interview:

(Disclosure: I've met Del. Vogt while I was working on the Lollar gubernatorial campaign, while he was running for MD-6 before changing to a delegate run. We are friendly.)

Bill: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2015RS/bills/hb/hb0034f.pdf

So the bill is intended to halt the implementation of the Common Core national standards and allow  Governor to assess the standards and see if they have merit. This bill permanently halts implementation, creating a situation that requires the state to re-implement them if they have merit. This curriculum was never actually assessed by Maryland for it's merit. Delegate Vogt made some minor contributions, but primary drafting and development was done by Delegate Kelly Schultz before her appointment to Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Delegate Vogt expects the primary opposition for the bill to come from the education unions and the Boards of Education, primarily as they have already built a lot of their plans around the existence of Common Core. Delegate Vogt believes that was premature.

National control is a standard Progressive position. According to Delegate Vogt, national standards undermine the American educational system, built entirely on local control and oversight. Different localities have different demographics and different needs, and local educational systems need to be built around the local needs of parents and students, not the needs of a national bureaucracy.

The bill currently has twelve sponsors, with freshman Delete Bob Long leading on this bill.

As for Delegate Vogt, he originally planned to spend his first term in office listening, learning and supporting good legislation and the governor without taking a big lead on anything, but instead found himself leading on legislation to allow the MVA to issue CDLs to military veterans who have been trained in operating heavy vehicles. This program already exists in several states, including Pennsylvania, and has resulted in no safety issues. It simply requires the state to recognize the training veterans receive in operating heavy vehicles instead of having to go to a separate CDL school to "complete the form." This program requires no spending, grants no subsidy or special privilege, and requires no resources be diverted.

Delegate Vogt has also co-sponsored a repeal of the gas tax increase, but as a backstop in case that fails (which is likely), he has written a bill that would send back to local governments the percentage that they currently receive. Currently, local governments receive 9.4% of the gas tax, but the automatic increases go exclusively to the state Transportation Trust Fund, and none of it goes to the local governments. Delegate Vogt's bill would require that the localities receive 9.4% of the increase as well.

Again, that is if the gas tax repeal fails.

I can also confirm that Delegate Vogt will not be running for President. (I asked) His 2016 prediction? Scott Walker.