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'THE GRINCH' VISITS CONGRESSAs Congress Stalls, California Stands To Lose $714.8 Million in School Funding
NOTE TO RADIO STATIONS: December 7, 2000 Washington, D.C. -- "The Grinch is at work on Capitol Hill," declared California Teachers Association President Wayne Johnson, who is in Washington, D.C. this week meeting with California's Congressional delegation. "After inexcusable delays, Congressional leadership spurned important bipartisan action in support of children and public education. Consequently, California's children and schools stand to lose at least $714.8 million in education funds if Congress does not act. The Grinch's heart is two sizes too small, what is House leadership's excuse?" said Johnson. Schools and children are already suffering the effects of Congress' shirking its responsibility to pass basic appropriations bills. "Impact Aid" schools, such as those on military bases and Indian reservations, should have received funding last month and are operating in budget limbo. Under frozen funding levels, financial aid officers won't be able to provide college students with financial aid. In addition, schools nationwide are trying to make hiring decisions and without funding allocations they will be hard pressed to recruit and hire new teachers. "Failing to act on final passage this week would be unconscionable," said Johnson. "The education funding bills are not Republican priorities or Democratic priorities, but are American education priorities." Despite reaching a bipartisan agreement last month, Republican leaders rejected a $7.9 billion compromise that would provide a 22 percent increase in federal education programs. The funds would be used to hire and train new teachers, reduce class size, repair and renovate schools, increase the federal share of special education for children with disabilities, and provide additional after-school programs. "For the first time in history, schools could receive targeted federal help to make much-needed school repairs," said Johnson. "This isn't Whoville -- real students are waiting for real help." The 330,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 2.5-million member National Education Association. |