After viewing the total package, including tax cuts, a group of education associations urged lawmakers to oppose the plan.
"This is not the time for the federal government to curtail its investments in programs that contribute so much to America's future strength and prosperity," said the letter signed by ACE, UNCF and other education groups.
One other contentious issue in the House budget is a 1 percent across-the-board cut affecting virtually all programs. Democrats charge that move alone could cut the maximum Pell grant and other programs. Republicans counter the plan builds in flexibility so lawmakers and agencies could target waste, fraud and abuse to meet the budget targets.
With their own concerns about the Bush budget plan, Black Caucus members proposed an alternative that would freeze tax cuts and provide $20 billion more for education. Programs such as Title I, Head Start, Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions would receive more funds under this plan.
Sponsors of this plan also blasted the administration's reluctance to include war costs in budget planning.
"You cannot separate the budget from the discussions of war and peace," said Rep. Major Owens, D-N.Y. He said his fear is that Congress and the White House may "place the burden of this war on the backs of the poorest people."
The Black Caucus budget failed on a vote of 340 to 85, which cleared the way for approval of the Bush plan. Lawmakers will use these plans to set program-by-program spending for the fiscal year that begins in October.
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
