Federal File: Helms aid; Changing of the guard

Sen. Jesse A. Helms, R-N.C., is known best in education circles for his dogged efforts to legalize prayer in public schools, his tirades against the teaching of homosexuality, and his penchant for attaching contentious amendments to education bills. Never has he been seen as a big proponent of public schools or public school funding.

But now Mr. Helms is calling for more federal funding of education--in his home state.

He is holding up the sale to the U.S. Army of 11,000 acres in Harnett and Cumberland counties in exchange for more federal impact aid for schools in Harnett County,...