House panel removes school vouchers from education measure

The House Education Committee voted 27-20 May 2 to strip a school voucher measure from President George W. Bush's education package, a move that makes it unlikely that vouchers will be a part of the final bill.

Right-wing Republicans and Religious Right activists were infuriated by the vote, during which five moderate GOP members joined forces with committee Democrats to remove the provision from H.R. 1. The legislation, a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, now moves to the full House.

Bush had proposed a federal voucher scheme allowing children in "failing" public schools to receive $1,500 per year for tuition at private schools. The proposal was controversial from the start, and even before the committee showdown Bush seemed to realize his plan didn't have a majority of the votes.

Meeting with reporters May 1, the president said he is pleased that the education bill contains most of the provisions he wanted, but added, "I believe we're going to end up with a whole menu of options - with the exception of public money for private schools."

Continued Bush, "There are people that are afraid of choice. I'm a realist. I understand that. It doesn't change my opinion, but it's not going to change the votes either."

Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, a Pennsylvania Republican who serves as the GOP's liaison to the Religious Right, was dismayed about increased funding for the Department of Education. Pitts met with a coalition of Religious Right organizations before the vote and later told The Washington Post, "They were very disappointed, to say the least, and I share their sentiment. The department they were trying to eliminate a few years ago is now about to get a huge increase in funding."

Meanwhile, Bush's Religious Right allies are in revolt about the compromises the president has agreed to. The Family Research Council and 27 other organizations announced May 3 that they oppose the bill as currently drafted. They are demanding that members of Congress restore religious school aid and other items on their agenda to the measure.

Copyright Americans United for Separation of Church and State Jun 2001
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