Alexander: bipartisan process produced durable education law; FAFSA later simplified

Lamar Alexander recounted his experience chairing the Senate education committee and described a bipartisan process that, he said, produced a durable education law. He told the audience he initially planned to write a bill that would return many K–12 decisions to states, but Sen. Patty Murray warned that a unilateral approach would fail. "So I said, okay, Patty. We'll do it your way," he said, and the negotiation produced legislation that reached the floor, attracted many amendments and was signed into law.