The U.S. Senate compromise bill cut $3.5 billion for work on higher education facilities, according to a breakdown of the Senate compromise stimulus bill released late Friday evening by Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.
The plan, according to Nelson’s office, also eliminates all $16 billion from the original bill for K-12 school construction, trims more than $1 billion from Head Start programs for youngsters, and cuts $40 billion from a $79 billion proposal to help states pay education costs while trying to balance their own budgets.
“This bipartisan agreement delivers the help millions of Americans need in this time of economic turmoil,” said Senator Nelson. “It fuels two powerful engines: major tax cuts for the middle class, and targeted investments in American infrastructure and job growth. It also pares back $110 billion of spending that didn’t belong in the bill. We’ve trimmed the fat, fried the bacon, and milked the sacred cows. What remains will fund education, an energy Smart Grid, tax credits for homebuyers and other critical infrastructure.”
Under the Senate stimulus proposal, education would receive only about half of what was intended under the House-approved bill.
While the Senate is expected to narrowly approve its version of the economic stimulus package on Tuesday, lawmakers from the House and Senate will face difficult negotiations over spending for tax cuts, education and aid for local governments.
The $827 billion measure is on track to pass the Senate, despite stiff opposition from the GOP and disappointment among Democrats, including President Barack Obama, who labeled it imperfect.
