Obama threatening veto of school aid unless cuts to RTTT are eliminated

[Hannah Bell]

All across the country, the most pressing need in schools right now is to keep as many teachers, janitors, counselors and librarians as possible. Less important: expanding charter schools and linking teachers' evaluations to their students' test scores.

So we're surprised by the tumult over a school-aid package approved by the House last week as part of a larger appropriations bill. It would provide $10 billion to keep as many school employees as possible in their jobs during the recession, but would do so, in part, by imposing some cuts on the Obama administration's key education initiative. Race to the Top, a $4.3-billion program that provides competitive grants to states that draw up reform programs in keeping with the administration's priorities, would lose $500 million. Two other incentive programs would lose a total of $300 million.

President Obama has threatened to veto the school-aid package unless the cuts to these programs are eliminated. But Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), who inserted the aid package, included those cuts among many others to offset its cost, thus winning support from Republicans and conservative Democrats. Even with the reduction in its budget, Race to the Top would have billions of dollars to hand out. Would the president really undermine desperately needed school funding over a less-than-lethal reduction in the grant program's coffers?

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-teacher-20100712,0,2449036.story

[Fumesucker]

1. So, Obama *can* be forceful when he really wants to..

Too bad he didn't get so exercised for the public option.

Is the agenda becoming clear yet?

[Donnachaidh]

3. oh most definitely.

This little threat is possibly the most damning. He says he *cannot* do the public option, and cannot do real financial reform - but he can pitch a hissy because his pet project which is gutting teacher's *unions* isn't being fully funded?

oh HELL no. :grr:

[Dinger]

2. I Sure Wish Obey Would Change His Mind About Retiring

But since he won't change his mind, and is retiring, I don't think anyone can say he is doing this to win an election. He knows it's the right thing to do. He speaks for me, and I am proud to have him as my congressman!:patriot:

[blindpig]

4. Bare nekked and don't care

The priorities of this administration are reactionary beyond even the expectations of Paul Street, and that's saying something.

k&r

[Brickbat]

5. So disgusting.

The evolution of this administration's priorities makes me so angry. So angry.

[LWolf]

6. If he does, I hope Congress overrides it.

I don't know what could possibly be a more blatant declaration of war on education, unless it's RTTT itself.

[Jakes Progress]

7. Look to who benefits when it comes to presidential action.

When it was a matter of the public option on health care the only ones who would benefit are the people while corporate insurance and corporate pharma would take a hit. The administration sat that one out.

With the education bill the ones who benefit are teachers and children while inaction would hurt corporate education. Our administration rises up in indignant anger and threatens action.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

[inna]

8. Pet project - gotta fire teachers, close public schools and bust unions.

What better time for charter reform if not now, in the middle of the state budget crisis. :sarcasm:

Never want a good crisis to go to waste, as Rahm would say.


His veto threat was completely repudiated by the House Dems btw; they voted OVERWHELMINGY for the bill despite a veto threat and lots of pressure from the Administration:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8719877#8722458