Washington briefs for March 20, 2001

Tuesday, March 20, 2001 | 9:46 a.m.

College betting ban bill to be introduced

Reps. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Tim Roemer, D-Ind., today planned to introduce a bill that would ban betting on college sports in Nevada casinos. They say the bill would curb gambling on college campuses and prevent game-fixing schemes.

Nevada lawmakers and gaming officials strongly disagree. They have launched a vigorous lobbying attack on the bill. They also are promoting their own legislation that would attempt to crack down on illegal betting in other states and calls for a study of illegal gambling by college students.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is the primary force behind the betting ban bill. The NCAA national college basketball tournament is being held this month, and Graham and Roemer had been expected to push their legislation in March to help draw attention to the bill.

School officials seek more funds

The Clark County School District needs more federal money for special education and low-income students, several school officials told Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia and board members Mary Beth Scow and Sheila Moulton met with the senators today, also asking them for help with teacher recruitment and retention programs. They were in the nation's capital for a conference of the Council of the Great City Schools, an organization of the nation's largest urban school systems. Clark County ranks No. 6 in the nation in size.

The school officials made a pitch to their lawmakers for more Title I money, federal funds that go to schools with large percentages of students from low-income families. Ensign has proposed a "High Growth Grant" -- a mechanism that would allow the flow of federal Title I money to keep pace with fast-growing states.

The school officials reiterated a long-time need for more federal money for special education. Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1975, pledging to send more federal money to school districts for students with special needs, but districts still pick up most of the tab, officials say. The federal government paid only $6.4 million of Clark County's $211 million special education budget during the 1998-99 school year.

Reid aims to block family planning initiative

Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry Reid is planning to use a procedural rule in Congress in an attempt to block an initiative backed by President Bush involving international family planning groups.

Bush on Jan. 22 implemented a "gag rule" that banned U.S.-aided overseas family planning organizations from disseminating any information about safe, legal abortions. Reid and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., today were scheduled to announce that they plan to use the Congressional Review Act, passed in 1996, which allows Congress to pass bills rejecting regulations issued by federal agencies. Both the Senate and House would have to pass the measure to knock down Bush's gag order.