Senator Harkin, Iowa K-12 School Advocates, Discuss Bush Budget Cuts In Education Funding

Harkin vows to fix funding cuts to help Iowa receive educational assistance

February 7, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) met with representatives of the Iowa State Education Association to discuss deep cuts to K-12 education funding in President Bush’s proposed budget. Harkin, who leads the Senate committee that funds education initiatives, called the Bush budget a reckless and backward-thinking proposal that would have dire consequences for Iowa’s school children. The representatives thanked Harkin for successfully restoring previous cuts made to public education programs.

“I urge this lame-duck President to wake up and recognize the responsibility he has to our children,” said Harkin. “Educating them and providing them with all the resources we possibly can so they can grow up to be intelligent and thoughtful citizens should be one of our top priorities. Instead, this President continues to neglect the future of our nation.”

The President’s proposed budget underfunds the No Child Left Behind Act by $14.7 billion, for a cumulative shortfall of $85.6 billion since its enactment. Under this plan, more than 15,000 children in Iowa would be denied promised Title I services, which improve the academic achievement of the disadvantaged.

“This President is effectively saying that he doesn’t care about the gross inequalities in our public schools and that the nation’s most vulnerable children simply don’t fit within the government’s top priorities,” said Harkin. “The same administration that continues to tout the No Child Left Behind Act has time and time again proposed vicious funding cuts that, in fact, leave many children in Iowa and around the country behind at alarming rates.”

The Bush budget continues to retreat on its commitment to students with disabilities, proposing that, for the fourth year in a row, the federal government provide a smaller share of states’ total costs for special education. The budget proposes a drastic $10.2 billion funding shortfall for the coming year for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Harkin continued: “The President’s opposition to fully funding special education programs leaves our most at-risk children in danger of falling farther and farther behind and local taxpayers paying more than their share of special education costs. This recklessness toward a generation of young people proves his misguided priorities.”

Of the many areas the President attempts to withhold funding, Perkins Career and Technical Education grants suffered a major blow. Last year the President sought to cut the program but this year he has proposed to completely eliminate it – zeroing out support. Iowa is set to lose $13.2 million dollars if President Bush eliminates this program.

“At a time when our economy is flailing and Americans’ job security is at risk, the President’s rationale for cutting career and job training and placement services doesn’t hold water,” said Harkin. “Our nation’s economy demands long term investments in programs like the Perkins Grants that have historically contributed to a strong middle class.”

The budget proposal also eliminates funding for dozens of other important education programs, including grants for school counseling, physical education, smaller learning communities, educational technology and arts education.

National Education Association Director Kathy Williams, a seventh grade teacher from Sioux City and National Education Association Director Jim Young, a fourth grade teacher from Cedar Falls attended today’s meeting.

Source: Senator Tom Harkin

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