Senate Creates New Bill to Save Teaching Jobs [UPDATED]

UPDATE: House Passes Bill to Save Teachers. (8/10/10 5:00 PM)
UPDATE: The Senate passed the $26 billion bill to keep states from cutting an estimated 300,000 public service jobs, including teachers. (8/5/10 1:55 PM)
Twenty-two billion dollars for domestic spending, including educational funds, were cut from the war funding bill passed by the House on July 27th. But a new bill with $10 billion to save educator jobs was created by the senate yesterday, along with $16 billion for Federal Medical Assistance Percentages. The bill is expected to be passed by the senate today, and then will go to the House for approval. Nancy Pelosi stated that she will interrupt the House’s summer recess to vote on the bill.
Many states are rejoicing over the unanticipated funds. “This amendment will allow Washington state to avoid layoffs, service cuts or tax increases and it will make sure our children don’t walk through the schoolhouse door this September to larger class sizes and fewer subjects,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who introduced the measure. Although Maine’s two Republican senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, voted to move the legislation forward, most members of the GOP are against the bill. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., fears the funding will create a “permanent need for future state bailouts.”

The bill is expected to particularly benefit art, music, and physical education programs that are at the highest wrist of being cut.
Via in The News Tribune.
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