Tom Harkin proposes $23 billion bailout for schools

[n2doc]

By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 14, 2010; 1:12 PM

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. The budget axe is falling in school systems from Prince George's County to Los Angeles, prompting an array of education groups to mobilize for help.


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

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041402043.html

[blm]

1. Hell YEAH. Finally ... someone is REALLY thinking of the children.

.

[tonysam]

2. So will there be "strings" attached, like RTTT? n/t

[madfloridian]

4. Good question. RTTT strings would do more harm than good.

[no limit]

3. Awesome! They are getting ready to lay off teachers here in New Mexico

[LWolf]

5. Good. Something not tied to bullshit privatization and union-busting reforms

is welcome.

Harking is correct. "Soon" is an understatement. If they are going to act before people get lay-off notices, while next year's budgets are being negotiated, NOW is the time.