Senate Democrat proposes $23 billion bailout for schools

The Senate's leading Democrat on education issues proposed a $23 billion bailout Wednesday to help public schools across the country avert widespread layoffs, a sequel to the economic stimulus law that has propped up teetering state budgets for the past year.

The Obama administration immediately expressed support for an education jobs bill to help states through fiscal crisis, hoping to build momentum for the proposal from Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

In an appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill, Harkin noted that layoffs of teachers and other school personnel could exceed 100,000 before the next school year starts.

"We must act soon," Harkin said. "This is not something we can fix in August. We have to fix it now." Harkin has a pivotal role as chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and chairman of the appropriations subcommittee on education.

The Democratic-led House late last year approved a measure of similar scope to help save education jobs, but it stalled in the Senate. Whether Harkin's proposal will gain traction remains to be seen. Senate Republicans, who have opposed the Democratic majority on most spending programs, can seek to block legislation through filibuster.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan seconded Harkin's assessment of the gravity of the situation facing schools. He estimated that schools face layoffs in the range of 100,000 to 300,000.

"It is brutal out there, really scary," Duncan told reporters after addressing the lawmakers. "This is a real emergency. What we're trying to avert is an education catastrophe."

Duncan stopped just short of endorsing Harkin's bill. But he said Congress must act in the spring. He said efforts to improve schools will be hurt if class sizes rise, summer school is cut and other programs are eliminated.

Senate Republicans at the hearing did not immediately address Harkin's proposal.

The economic stimulus law enacted in 2009 provided nearly $100 billion for education, much of it to help states avoid layoffs.

via washingtonpost.com

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