Senators right to oppose education bill

Despite pressure from their colleagues, the U.S. Senators from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson, stood by their convictions this week and voted against the $26.5 billion Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Despite the Nebraskans' opposition, the bill breezed through the Senate in overwhelming fashion, garnering 87 votes in favor and only 10 votes -- including those of Hagel and Nelson -- in opposition.

While they are going against the mainstream, we believe the Nebraska senators are doing the right thing on this issue.

Hagel, a Republican, and Nelson, a Democrat, opposed the education bill because it did not require the federal government to face up to its responsibility to help fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

When Congress passed the act in 1975, it promised to pay 40 percent of the cost of educating children with special needs. Since then, according to both Nelson and Hagel, the federal government has never contributed more than 15 percent of the funding needs for special education.

The continuing shortfall is placing unfair pressure on state budgets to meet federal mandates. Those in power need to put their foot down, to say, "No more." And, with their no votes, that's what Hagel and Nelson are trying to do.

Nebraskans have long objected to the federal practice of requiring state programs without providing adequate funds to pay for them. With their no votes, both Hagel and Nelson are showing that they are listening to their Nebraska constituents.

Nelson and Hagel also contend that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will impose costly and burdensome annual testing requirements on Nebraska's schools. Nebraska has already risen to the testing challenge, and the federal bill would lead to unnecessary duplication.

"We know from the outset that this is going to cost states a considerable amount of money at a time when taxpayer dollars are already scarce," Nelson said. Recently, the National Governors Association announced that collectively the states will report a $35 billion deficit this year. Nebraska alone suffered a $220 million budget shortfall in 2001.

It takes courage to go against the majority. But we are proud that the U.S. Senators from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson, are doing so.

Before forcing states to take on new responsibilities, the federal government needs to meet its promises for funding the mandated programs of the past.