School Construction. This vote concerns Senator William Roth\’s (R-DE) motion to kill Senator Charles Robb\’s (D-VA) amendment to the education savings accounts bill. Robb\’s amendment would provide $25 billion in federal tax credits to holders of \"qualified school modernization bonds.\" It would also authorize $1.3 billion annually for five years in grants and zero-interest loans for school repairs. Of course, with federal money there is always a catch. As Roth stated in floor debate, \"This program involves a dramatic increase in bureaucracy, while at the same time striking at the heart of local control of education….\" State or local school districts would need to get the approval of the Department of Education in order to qualify for the bonds. The Department of Education then would make sure the district had completed all the surveys and studies required, and, in Roth\’s words, \"Washington would be micromanaging a local school district\’s renovation plans … second guessing the decision of state and local officials.\"
A motion to table (kill) the Robb amendment to S. 1134 passed the Senate on March 1, 2000 by a vote of 57-42 (Roll Call 17). We have assigned pluses to the yeas.
