Republican lawmaker renews call for Obama to fire the 'safe schools' czar

Republican Rep. Steve King (Iowa) on Thursday again asked President Barack Obama to fire his "safe schools" czar Kevin Jennings.

The conservative lawmaker penned a letter to Obama to express his disappointment that the administration did not respond to his first letter in October. The previous letter was co-signed by 52 other GOP lawmakers and called for Jennings' ouster.

King also refers to a resolution introduced by a Republican congressman pushing for the czar's resignation.

"I am disappointed that concerned Members of Congress have been forced to resort to legislative action as a result of your unwillingness to act on this important matter," King wrote. 

Republicans have recently turned the heat back up on Jennings.

Last week, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) introduced a resolution calling on Jennings to resign. Jennings has come under scrutiny from a wide array of conservatives who accuse him of pushing a "pro-homosexual agenda" in public schools.

"Kevin Jennings needs to be replaced, he needs to be replaced today," Burgess stressed in a floor speech last week. "The so-called safe schools czar appointed by the Obama administration to the Department of Education is dangerous for our school children."

King lobbed the same accusations at Jennings.

"Mr. Jennings has a history of pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America’s schools, ignoring the sexual abuse of a child, supporting inappropriate sexual relationships between adults and children, using illegal drugs without regret and facilitating certain types of sexual behavior by children," he wrote. "Mr. Jennings must be removed from his position as the “Safe Schools Czar” immediately."

Full text of the letter after the jump

December 16, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

In a letter dated October 15, 2009, I, along with 52 of my colleagues, respectfully requested that you remove Kevin Jennings from his position as the “Safe Schools Czar.” To date, we have received no response. Due to the inaction of your Administration, Representative Michael Burgess has introduced a resolution calling for Kevin Jennings to be fired from his post as “Safe Schools Czar” immediately. I am disappointed that concerned Members of Congress have been forced to resort to legislative action as a result of your unwillingness to act on this important matter.

Mr. Jennings’ record proves that he is unfit to serve as the “Safe Schools Czar.” My colleagues and I, along with the American people, deserve to know why Mr. Jennings is still serving in your Administration, despite his lack of appropriate qualifications or ethical standards. Mr. Jennings has a history of pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America’s schools, ignoring the sexual abuse of a child, supporting inappropriate sexual relationships between adults and children, using illegal drugs without regret and facilitating certain types of sexual behavior by children. Mr. Jennings must be removed from his position as the “Safe Schools Czar” immediately.

I have enclosed a copy of the October 15, 2009, letter for your convenience. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Steve King

Member of Congress

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