They do, however, represent battleground issues that indicate where some of the contentious debates will take place during the coming appropriations season. The current figure, according to OMB is 30.4 percent. No specifics, but Republicans have already proposed school vouchers, funding 10,000 new teachers, and increasing school security. Look for the House Education Committee this year to propose legislation that reflects the Project's findings. Literacy The Speaker's announced goal is that every child be able to read by the end of the fourth grade.
Drugs Look for Republican budget proposals to beef up anti-drug funding.
An annual budget surplus would not occur under this scenario until 2006. All of this is to say that the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the federal student financial aid programs so important to ensuring financial access for Texas students to postsecondary education, will be effected by much larger and public budget discussions and debates. It will, therefore, be important that those individuals, groups, and organizations concerned with maintaining strong federal student financial aid programs keep those specific issues before their Members of Congress through phone calls, letters, and visits.