That's enough to rebuild six of the worst schools and make essential repairs to others. The two agencies are the main source of federal programs for about 2.5 American Indians. Both parties said they were going to do something about the school construction issue, and it did well for us this year. The Interior bill has President Clinton's backing and already has cleared the House. A Senate vote was delayed Wednesday by a filibuster by Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, R-Illinois, who is protesting a provision for funding an Abraham Lincoln library.
Tribal leaders say they're particularly encouraged by the jump in education spending in the bill.
Per-student spending on Indian schools is lower than in any state in the nation. The school is one of the six to be rebuilt with this year's extra money. Gorton, head of the appropriations panel that handles the Interior budget, is facing an election-year advertising blitz from Indians angry at what they say is Gorton's opposition to tribes' rights to govern themselves. The Associated Press . All rights reserved.