MEMO: Senator Ted Stevens Record On EducationMEMORANDUM TO: Reporters; interested parties Whether it’s primary education, college, or after school programs, Senator Stevens’ record leaves Alaska families behind. Bringing children up in this competitive world and affording quality education is no easy feat. But don’t go looking to Stevens for his help. According to the National Education Association (NEA), due to funding shortfalls, more than 9,000 disadvantaged children in Alaska are being left behind. Tuition at Alaska’s four-year public colleges increased 29 percent over the past six school years. [Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Digest of Education Statistics "Average undergraduate tuition and fees and room and board rates charged for full-time students in degree-granting institutions, by type and control of institution and state or jurisdiction."]
Even the NEA has taken note of Stevens’ record on education. From 1996 through 2007, Stevens received an average score of 22 percent from the NEA, including a D grade in 2007. [Project Vote Smart Web Site, "Interest Group Ratings," www.vote-smart.org]
Stevens Voted Against Providing Full Funding For “No Child Left Behind” Act. On March 10, 2004, Stevens voted against a Murray (D-WA) amendment that would close tax loopholes to fully fund No Child Left Behind Act and reduce the national debt. The amendment failed 52 to 46. [Roll Call 35, S.Con.Res. 95, March 10, 2004]
Stevens Voted To Table An Amendment To Fully Fund The “No Child Left Behind Act” And To Lower The National Debt. On March 19, 2003, Stevens voted to table a Murray (D-WA) amendment that would reduce tax cuts in the resolution by $17.8 billion to fully fund No Child Left Behind Act and reduce the national debt. The motion to table the amendment passed 50 to 48. [Roll Call 60, S.Con.Res. 23, March 19, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Restoring Educational Programs and Increasing Education Funding. On March 14, 2005, Stevens voted against a Bingaman (D-NM) amendment restoring educational funding that had been cut and increasing educational funding by $4.75 billion. The amendment failed, 49 to 44. [Roll Call 45, S.Con.Res. 18, March 14, 2005]
Steven Voted Against Restoring Cuts in Student Aid. On September 10, 2003, Stevens voted against a Corzine (D-NJ) amendment restoring cuts made to student aid by prohibiting funds in the bill from allowing the department of Education to implement changes to financial aid eligibility formulas. [Roll Call 339, H.R. 2660, September 10, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Increasing Funding for Special Education. On September 3, 2003, Stevens voted against a Dayton (D-MN) amendment to increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by $11.1 billion. The motion on Dayton’s amendment failed 54 to 42. [Roll Call 324, H.R. 2660, September 3, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Increasing Spending on Head Start Programs by $24 Billion and After School Programs by $18 Billion. On March 25, 2003, Stevens voted against a Dodd (D-CT) amendment that would have increased from 850,000 to 2.5 the number of children eligible for after school programs by increasing spending by $18 billion and would have increased spending on Head Start programs by $24 billion over ten years. The funding increases would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts. The amendment failed 51 to 48. [Roll Call 86, S.Con.Res. 23, March 25, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Restoring Funding for Vocational Education. On March 25, 2003, Stevens voted against a Clinton (D-NY) amendment restoring funding for vocational education by $3.6 billion over 10 years. The amendment failed 50 to 49. [Roll Call 98, S.Con.Res. 23, March 25, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Increasing To Education Funding. On April 4, 2001, Stevens voted against a Harkin (D-IA) amendment reducing the tax cut by $448 billion to provide $250 billion for education and $224 billion to reduce the federal debt. The amendment passed 53 to 47 and the bill it was attached to, H.Con.Res. 83, which was agreed to in the Senate on May 10, 2001. [Roll Call 69, H.Con.Res. 83, April 4, 2001]
Stevens Voted Against Providing Funding for Teachers and Improving Schools. On May 3, 2000, Stevens voted against a Daschle (D-SD) amendment authorizing funding for hiring new teachers, building and repairing schools, and after school programs. The amendment failed 54 to 45, with no Democrats voting against the amendment and no Republicans voting for the amendment. (Roll Call 90, S. 2, May 3, 2000)
Stevens Voted to Table Amendment Restoring School Breakfast Grants. On July 24, 1997, Stevens voted to table a Wellstone (D-MN) amendment restoring the school breakfast grant program that was eliminated with the enactment of the 1996 welfare reform law. The motion to table the amendment passed 54 to 45. [Roll Call 200, S. 1033, July 24, 1997]
Stevens Voted Against Increasing Financial Aid to Match Tuition Increases for Middle Class Families. On September 9, 2003, Stevens voted against a Kennedy (D-MA) amendment increasing financial aid to match tuition increases for middle class families. The amendment would have provided an additional $2.2 billion for higher education, including $1.7 billion for Pell grants, and $157 million for federal work-study programs. The motion to save the amendment failed 49 to 46. [Roll Call 331, H.R.2660, September 9, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Increasing Pell Grant Awards. On April 7, 2000, Stevens voted against a Kennedy (D-MA) amendment reducing Bush’s tax cuts by less than 1 percent to increase the Pell grant award from $3,300 to $3,700. [Roll Call 69, S.Con.Res.101, April 7, 2000]
Stevens Voted Against Making College Tuition Tax Deductable for the Middle Class. On July 30, 1999, Stevens voted against considering a Schumer (D-NY) amendment providing a full tax deduction for college tuition for the middle class. The motion was rejected 53 to 47. [Roll Call 241, S.1429, July 30, 1999]
Stevens Voted Against Providing an Additional 100,000 Teachers and Providing a Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers. On April 21, 1998, Stevens voted to table a Kennedy (D-MA) amendment providing an additional 100,000 teachers and providing loan forgiveness for teachers. Under the student loan forgiveness program, the federal government would forgive up to $8,000 in federal student loans for schoolteachers. The amendment was tabled in a vote of 56 to 41. [Roll Call 66, H.R.2646, April 21, 1998]
Stevens Voted Against Reducing the Cost of Student Loans. On June 25, 1997, Stevens voted against a Kennedy (D-MA) amendment to lower the guarantee to lenders on guaranteed student loans to 95 percent of the loans from 98 percent, and would eliminate the guaranteed administrative cost allowance. The amendment would cut the loan origination fee for student loans from 4 percent to 2 percent and would forbid the charging of insurance premiums on student loans. [Roll Call 126, S. 947, June 25, 1997]
Stevens Voted to Table Motion Providing a $10,000 Tax Deduction for College Education. On October 26, 1995, Stevens voted to table a Biden (D-DE) motion providing a tax deduction of at least $10,000 per year for the costs of college education. The motion was tabled by a vote of 55 to 44. [Roll Call 516, S. 1357, October 26, 1995]
Stevens Voted to Table Bill Restoring Pell Grant Funding. On May 25, 1995, Stevens voted to table a Kennedy (D-MA) amendment to increase spending by 8.8 billion over 7 years to restore proposed funding reductions to the Pell Grant program. The amendment was tabled by a vote of 54 to 45. [Roll Call 220, S.Con.Res.13, May 25, 1995]
Stevens Opposed a Tax Deduction for College Tuition. On May 22, 1996, Stevens voted to table a motion expressing a sense of the Senate to provide a tax deduction of college tuition and student loan interest costs. The motion was tabled by a vote of 56 to 44. [Roll Call 121, S.Con.Res. 57, May 22, 1996]
Stevens Voted To Table Motion Shielding College Aid From Budget Cuts. On February 23, 1995, Stevens voted to table a Wellstone (D-MN) motion to shield college aid from the 1995 budget cuts. The motion failed 60 to 35. [Roll Call 78, H.J.Res.1, February 23, 1995] |
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