House Endorses Voucher Program for D.C. Schools

By Joetta L. Sack

Washington

Decrying conditions in the District of Columbia public schools, House Republicans were at the forefront of a 214-206 vote to approve a federal voucher plan for the city's poorest students late last week.

President Clinton has promised to veto the $45 billion, five-year plan, which would give government vouchers of up to $3,200 each to about 2,000 children from low-income homes. He and other opponents have insisted that public money should not be used to pay for tuition at religious and other private schools.

But even the staunchest voucher foes made no effort to deny that Washington's schools are troubled by bureaucracy, crumbling buildings, and violence, and that the system's students generally...