IA Dems Endorse Bayh's Signature IN Education Initiative

If IN Sen. Evan Bayh (D) runs for president, he would model his domestic agenda on his gubernatorial accomplishments.

One major item, according to Bayh advisers, is the 21st Century Scholars program. Passed when Bayh was GOV in 1990, it guaranteed free college tuition for high school kids who earned good grades and kept out of trouble. In part because of the program, IN's "continuation rate" -- the percentage of students who matriculated to college after high school -- shot from 40th best to the 9th best in the country.

Bayh brags about this initiative during in his national stump speech. And today, IA Dems rewarded him politically.

When 14 of them introduced a free tuition initiative today, they credited Bayh.

From the music-to-Bayh's-ears press release: "The program will teach our students about personal responsibility, increase parent involvement in education, and reward students who work hard and play by the rules," said Rep. Janet Petersen. "Twenty-first Century Scholars offers hope to thousands of Iowans who desperately want to break the chain of poverty and improve the quality of life for their children."

Not to mention a great IA talking point.