From: Andy Baracco 
Subject: Gorton and Hoekstra Updates (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 12:14:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: Julie Carroll 
To: juliec@access.digex.net
Subject: Gorton and Hoekstra Updates
The ACB office has been overwhelmed with telephone calls
regarding the Gorton and Hoekstra amendments.  Regrettably, it
will not be possible for us to return all the calls.  I will
attempt to answer the common questions below.  Please help by
sharing this information with other ACB members and your blind
and visually impaired friends and colleagues.
1.  Gorton Update
There are rumors that Senator Gorton has agreed to restore
rehabilitation dollars to the labor-HS-Ed Appropriations bill
through a technical amendment.  According to Senator Gorton's
office, he is not considering a technical amendment, but,
instead, Senator Gorton has agreed to restore rehabilitation
program dollars, and only rehabilitation dollars, during
conference.  This would not undo the block granting of funds for
the american printing House, computers in every classroom, School
to work, Goals 2000, and a variety of other federal education
initiatives.  obviously, our work during conference will be very
important.  Stay tuned.  I will provide you with conferee names
as soon as they are available.  They are not announced until the
bill has been passed by both houses.
2.  What if the Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations bill is not adopted
by the end of the fiscal year?
If the final Labor-HHS-Ed Appropriations bill is not passed by
the October 1st deadline, a short term (9 day) continuing
resolution is expected.  In such an event, because the Senate
version now eliminates many federal programs, the continuing
resolution will likely adopt either the House appropriations
figures or the previous year's funding levels.
3.  What about the Hoekstra Amendment?
The Hoekstra Amendment is expected to be introduced this morning. 
although we have not been given their actual language, we have
been told by Hoekstra' staff that his amendment will not block
grant rehabilitation programs or the American Printing House for
the Blind, but will block grant School to Work, the
Administration's program to get a computer in every classroom,
goals 2000, and a variety of other federal education initiatives. 
No amendment number was available when I spoke with Mr.
Hoekstra's office, and he is offering other amendments, so when
you refer to the Hoekstra Amendment when talking with your
representatives, specify that you are referring to the Hoekstra
Amendment that block grant federal education programs.
 
4.  What about a presidential veto?
The President can use his line item veto powers to strike the
gorton amendment if it remains in the final Labor-HHS-Ed
Appropriations bill after it is conferenced.  President Clinton
has issued a statement threatening just such a veto.  The text of
his statement follows:
*****
THE WHITE HOUSE
               Office of the Press Secretary
                  For Immediate Release         
                   September 16, 1997
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
The vote by a narrow majority of the U.S. Senate to support the
Gorton Amendment undermines the bipartisan spirit of cooperation
that is so vital to improving American education.  At worst, this
decision to block grant education programs is, as Secretary Riley
said, a "back-door attempt to kill off the Department of
Education."  At best, the vote was a hasty, ill-considered
decision that would have a serious impact on our schools.
I welcome the Senate's overwhelming support for my proposal to
offer states and communities voluntary national tests in 4th
grade reading and 8th grade math.  However, the adoption of the
Gorton Amendment less than two hours later eliminated the very
funding needed to continue development of these tests.
The Gorton Amendment would halt many of our most successful
efforts to improve education, including our efforts to get
computers into every classroom; raise standards through Goals
2000; establish more charter schools; assist young people in
making the transition from school to work; help parents and
schools keep our children safe and drug-free; and create more
opportunities to help immigrant children learn English and stay
in school.  The Amendment would seriously harm the Title I
program, which provides extra help to low-income students so they
can master the basic skills of reading and math and reach high
academic standards.  It also undermines programs targeted to help
gifted and talented students, support arts education, and promote
exciting new efforts to create technology partnerships.  Further,
this amendment would slash funds used to help adults with severe
disabilities obtain employment.
This is not a vote, as some would suggest, about who controls
public education.  Rather it is a vote about whether the Federal
government will maintain its commitment to help local communities
strengthen accountability and raise academic standards in basic
skills, improve teaching and learning, assist parents and schools
in keeping children safe and drug-free, promote public school
choice for parents and students, and prepare all of our students
for the 21st Century.
The Department of Education has historically targeted its funding
to schools that serve disadvantaged students.  If the Gorton
Amendment became law, the wealthiest school districts would be
the winners and the rest of our communities would inevitably be
the losers.
Politics must stop at the schoolhouse door.  The Gorton Amendment
is unacceptable.  I understand a similar provision may be offered
in the House.  Let me be clear.  If necessary, I will use my veto
power to make sure that no such provision becomes the law of the
land.
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