Democrat Leaders Have No Budget, No Plan for Funding Education, Boehner Notes 9/23/2002
From: David Schnittger or Heather Valentine, 202-225-4527, both of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio) today expressed surprise upon learning House Democrat leaders, who opposed President Bush's wartime budget this year but did not offer an alternative budget plan of their own, had held a news conference calling for further increases in education funding. While the Republican-led House has passed a wartime budget that includes large increases for education priorities such as Title I aid to disadvantaged students, special education, and reading, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not even passed a budget resolution -- the first time since 1974 that the Senate has failed to do so. "When it comes to funding education reform, Democrat leaders have no plan, no budget, and no credibility," Boehner said. "In the House, Democrats voted against the President's budget this year but didn't offer an alternative plan of their own. And in the Democrat-controlled Senate, they didn't even pass a budget resolution this year -- the first time since 1974 that the Senate has failed to do so." "By contrast, President Bush put forth a responsible budget that makes education a priority even in a time of war and economic turmoil," Boehner said. According to an independent analysis by National Journal, elementary, secondary, and vocational education funding will increase by 40.8 percent over the next five years under the President's budget -- despite the fact that defense and federal law enforcement are being increased much more dramatically than expected prior to the September 11 attacks. (Cannon, Baumann, Zeller, "Winners & Losers," National Journal, February 9, 2002) "House Democrat leaders owe the American people an explanation of how they would pay for the spending increases they claim they're for while also fighting a war on terror, protecting the homeland and funding other priorities at the same time. Which tax would they raise -- and which programs would they cut -- to provide the spending they say they're for?" Boehner asked. The President's budget -- which Democrat leaders opposed without offering an alternative -- increases funding for special education, Title I grants to low-income schools, and provides additional support for Head Start and President Bush's Reading First initiative to ensure all students can read by the third grade. It also takes an important step to ensure our students have the best teachers by providing $2.85 billion to states and schools districts to train, recruit and retain high quality teachers. Boehner and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) in July released a joint analysis showing that the nation's most disadvantaged public school districts this year will receive an historic average increase of 26.4 percent in federal Title I funding this year as a result of the President's reforms. The Boehner-Gregg report, entitled "Resources for Reform: New Hope for America's Most Disadvantaged Public Schools," can be viewed online at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/107th/education/nclb/boehnerg reggreport.pdf. As Washington Post columnist David Broder wrote earlier this year, Democrats "punted" on this year's budget, opposing the President's wartime budget even while failing to offer an alternative of their own. Following is a quick look at some of the new education resources in the GOP budget. Special Education -- GOP Budget for Special Education: Provides $8.53 billion -- a $1 billion increase over last year -- for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grants to states. This also accommodates a 12 percent annual increase in IDEA spending for future years -- a rate of increase that would allow for full funding of IDEA within ten years. -- House Democrats offered no budget to meet the needs of special education students. Low-Income School Districts -- GOP Budget for Low-Income School Districts: Provides $1 billion increase in Title I grants to low-income schools -- on top of last year's $1.6 billion increase -- focusing resources on the highest-poverty school districts. -- House Democrats offered no budget to help low-income school districts. Teacher Quality -- GOP Budget for Teachers: Provides $2.85 billion to states and schools districts to train, recruit, and retain high quality teachers -- a 35 percent increase in federal teacher quality funds over the last Clinton budget to help states and local schools put a quality teacher in every classroom by 2005. -- House Democrats offered no budget to help teachers. Reading First -- GOP Budget for Reading First: Provides $1 billion -- a $100 million increase -- for the President's plan to improve reading instruction by addressing reading difficulties at an early age, and ensuring that teachers use proven teaching methods. -- House Democrats offered no budget for Reading First. Head Start -- GOP Budget for Head Start: Increases funding by $130 million to increase children's preparedness for learning when they enter school. -- House Democrats offered no budget for Head Start. Charter Schools and School Choice -- GOP Budget for New Elementary and Secondary Education Programs: Supports the President's request for the following initiatives: $100 million for charter schools; $50 million for research encouraging both private and public school-choice options; and $25 million for a voluntary public school choice program, particularly for parents of children attending low-performing schools. -- House Democrats offered no budget to help charter schools or encourage school choice. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) -- GOP Budget for HBCUs and HSIs: Provides a 3.6 percent increase for historically black colleges, universities and graduate institutions, as well as Hispanic-serving institutions. -- House Democrats offered no budget for HBCUs and HSIs. Pell Grants -- GOP Budget for Pell Grants: Maintains the maximum Pell Grant at an historic high of $4,000. -- House Democrats offered no budget for Pell Grants. |