Republicans Join in Call To Boost ED Budget

Senate Republicans last week decided to throw in the towel on efforts to cap federal education funding by offering to match Democrats plan to raise spending $2.9 billion above this years level.

Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi unveiled an amendment to spread $2.3 billion across the Department of Education that would add to the $582 million in new money proposed by Senate appropriators one week earlier. Almost $1.5 billion of the money Mr. Lott proposed would go to K-12 programs such as Title I, special education, and school technology.

Mr. Lott offered his alternative in an attempt to reverse public perception that Republicans don't care about education after last year's proposals to slash the department, Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., Mr. Lott's...