GOP
Document Expresses Concern Over Education Provisions in Senate Economic Stimulus
Bill S 336
February 5, 2009—The U.S. Senate Republican Policy
Committee has developed a document to express GOP views of the Senate economic
stimulus bill, S 336. The document “Democrats’ Spending Expansion Bill
dramatically Increases Federal Role in Education,” focuses on the Republican
concern that while the majority of education funding now comes from state and
local sources, S 336 would more than double the current budget of the U.S. Department
of Education. According to the document, "The education provisions in the
Democrats’ stimulus bill are nothing more than a longstanding liberal wish
list that gives little consideration to what is actually in the best interest
of students."
In addition, the document states, "The education
funding in S 336 is unlikely to be permanent and would establish a new baseline
for education funding. This will allow Democrats to continue to make the argument
that federal education programs are ‘underfunded’ and serve as a justification
for spending more and more taxpayer money on unnecessary programs each year.”
Specific concerns - Funding is Not Targeted or Temporary
- Education
Provisions Don’t Actually Stimulate the Economy
- Does Not Tie Increased
Funding to Real Reforms
- Delays Difficult Decisions about Education Funding
in a Changing Economy
- Leaves Students Unable to Complete College
- Allows
States to Shortchange Spending on Education
- Contains Unprecedented New
“Green” School Construction
- Ignores the Fact that States Currently
Have Billions of Dollars in Unspent Federal Education
Funding - Contains
Overly Burdensome Reporting Requirements
- Does Not Contain Funding for
Programs that Support Performance Pay for Teachers and
Charter Schools
Democrats’
Spending Expansion Bill dramatically Increases Federal Role in Education
U.S.
Senate Republican Policy Committee | 
