| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : MARCH 22, 1999 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| SOCIAL ISSUES
Commentary: School Report on Congress: 'Needs to Work Harder' After sparring over school policy for the past decade, Republicans and Democrats were--amazingly--reading off the same page when the new Congress began in January. The ''Ed-Flex'' bill, for one, looked like a winner. Shorthand for legislation that gives schools more freedom in using $11 billion in federal aid, Ed-Flex would also require schools to track student performance. With support from the White House, Congress, and all 50 governors, Ed-Flex seemed to be on a fast track to enactment. But instead of becoming a mark of lawmakers' determination to stop sniping and get back to business, Ed-Flex bogged down in the Senate in a blizzard of Democratic amendments, its future uncertain. Even if the bill squeaks through, the ordeal augurs ill for other education measures this year (table)--and for bipartisanship in general. PET PROGRAMS. Education policy is too important to be bushwhacked in a partisan melee. At stake is the quality of schooling for millions of American children. The two parties do have real philosophical differences on education, and they should debate them. The fundamental divide: The Republicans favor a smaller role for the federal government, which foots the bill for just 6% of elementary and secondary education, while Democrats want more control over educational policy from Washington. But lawmakers should not let political gamesmanship sidetrack those initiatives on which they actually agree. What changed education from a bipartisan waltz into political mud-wrestling? Democratic leaders, keen to deny the Republicans a quick legislative victory on such a popular issue, turned debate over the Ed-Flex bill into a referendum on billions of dollars worth of pet Democratic proposals, such as money to hire 100,000 more teachers. The blowup isn't just the Demo-crats' fault. By refusing to allow floor votes on any Democratic amendments, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) is hoping to deprive Democrats of claiming credit for Ed-Flex. ''Both parties view [education] as a crucible for politics this year, and neither wants to give the other the upper hand,'' says Representative Michael N. Castle (R-Del.), House co-sponsor of Ed-Flex. The irony is that the parties are closer than ever on education these days. President Clinton is championing such Republican themes as improving teacher quality and prodding boards of education to rescue failing schools. And more Democrats are willing to consider GOP tax credits to help parents pay for computers and other K-12 expenses. Republicans, meanwhile, have ditched calls to cut federal school aid or abolish the Education Dept. They're backing away from vouchers for kids to attend private schools. The GOP even carps that the Clintonites aren't spending enough, especially on disabled students. Budget hawk Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) is pushing for a 40% hike in federal spending on education over the next five years. NARROW EDGE. It's no mystery why lawmakers are thinking schools. Mostly, it's education's swift rise to the top of voter concerns. The GOP is especially under the gun because it turned off voters with earlier attacks on the Education Dept. and teachers' unions. Now, with just a six-seat edge in the House, it's hardly surprising that Republicans are no longer pushing for such controversial measures such as vouchers. Battered by impeachment backlash, Republicans crave accomplishments. Democrats say they want to pass major bills, too. Education policy is a worthy place to start. Having finally found some common ground, lawmakers deserve an F if they can't figure out how to play nice. By Amy Borrus _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP |
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