Education Bailout Hits Obstacles (MO)

June 1, 2010

Congress bailed out Wall Street and the auto industry, but it appears to have drawn the line — at least for now — at rescuing teachers.

A Democratic plan to send $23 billion to the states to save the jobs of 100,000 to 300,000 public school teachers, librarians, counselors and other employees slated for layoffs looks dead for the time being.

Blame it on election year politics.

The anti-Washington, anti-spending mood has become so potent that even Democrats are antsy about helping teachers, one of their most longstanding and generous allies.

“We are in a situation now where a portion of our caucus is rebelling against just about any kind of spending,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat.

Layoffs already have begun. Advocates for teachers are calling them “catastrophic.” Critics of the emergency aid maintain that states need to clean up their fiscal acts and make reforms.

In the meantime, large states such as California and Texas each are expected to lose more than 30,000 teachers and other personnel, according to White House estimates.

In Kansas, where a rough battle in the Legislature earlier this year left school funding flat, more than 3,300 educators could lose their jobs.

“We have a very good record of improving student achievement,” said Dale Dennis, the state’s deputy commissioner of education. “The reduction of these folks will be very challenging at the local level.”

But Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican, said that if the money was needed, the solution would be to cut “wasteful spending in other areas of the federal budget,” not to go further into debt.

In Missouri, more than 7,000 teachers and others could receive pink slips, according to the White House.

“Especially with a young family, it’s really tough,” said Eric Kilgore, a social studies teacher who recently was laid off at Staley High School in Kansas City. “We’re sitting here day to day not knowing what’s going to happen.”

Schools are cutting staff and programs because the recession has depleted state tax revenues, which help pay for public education.

Democrats in the House had hoped to pass the $23 billion emergency bailout last week as part of a spending bill for the war in Afghanistan. That bill was expected to pass. But fiscally conservative Democrats from districts where they face a difficult election weren’t happy about having to defend another vote that would increase the deficit.

The school aid measure never came to a vote. Nor did it have any more luck in the Senate, where some Democrats were equally jumpy about spending, and the majority couldn’t secure the necessary 60 votes for passage.

“Given the size of the current federal deficit, I have reservations about the federal government taking on greater responsibility for education funding,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat.

Teachers traditionally have been a powerful voice in Democratic Party politics. The two largest unions gave congressional Democrats more than $4 million in 2008 and have contributed more than $1.7 million so far in this election cycle.

Kim Anderson, director of government relations for the National Education Association, the larges t teachers union, said members are frustrated, given what schools and students are likely to face in the fall because of layoffs and cutbacks.

However, critics say that the Education Department received $100 billion in economic stimulus funds and hasn’t spent all of it, so why should Congress approve more?

“Congress should not add to the nation’s burgeoning public debt while states are still sitting on funds that were provided 15 months ago,” said Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican.

Department of Education officials said most of the unspent stimulus funds are obligated to other programs.

Meanwhile, Education Department spokeswoman Sandra Abrevaya said the administration expects Congress to approve the emergency funds after the Memorial Day recess.

But a powerful force affecting the outcome could be the nation’s sour political mood. A USA Today/Gallup poll last week found that even as the public is growing optimistic about the economy, anger about the country’s direction and incumbents is rising.

“We now cannot compromise because each party will react negatively to someone who wants to work with the other side,” Cleaver said.