Senate rejects Reid’s school measure

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003 | 9:20 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Wednesday rejected an amendment by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., that aimed to fund federal educational programs for Hispanics.

"There is an unacceptable gap in academic achievement between Latino students and the overall student population," Reid said. "My legislation was designed to give Latino students a step up the ladder of education.'

He and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., introduced the amendment Wednesday morning, but the Senate voted it down hours later.

The $210 million amendment to the Education Department spending bill failed largely along party lines, Reid noted. Only one Democrat voted against the amendment while one Republican and one Independent voted for it.

"Some of my Senate colleagues expressed today that we cannot afford to give a helping hand to Hispanic students," Reid said in a statement. "It is very disappointing that many of my colleagues voted to ignore Latino American students."

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., was among those who voted against the bill.

Ensign opposed the amendment because it was a "budget buster" with not enough specific funds that would benefit Nevada, Ensign's spokesman, Jack Finn, said. If the Senate would approve a bill that would break the budget limitation, it would have to have a "proven track record" and ensure money that would help the state, Finn said.

He added that Ensign is working with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., on a separate Hispanic-geared bill that he feels is more fiscally responsible and could address the same needs.

The amendment would have allotted $85 million for language instruction, $69 million for migrant and seasonal Head Start programs, and $12.7 million for parent assistance and local family programs, among other programs, according to Reid's office.