ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 10, Number 13 February 28, 2001 In this issue: BUSH DEBUTS BUDGET OUTLINE On Tuesday, February 27, President Bush gave his first address to Congress and unveiled in broad outline his budget plans. The majority of his remarks concerned the planned tax cuts. Early indications from leading Democrats reveal strong opposition to the scope and size of the proposed cuts. The Administration is basing the need for the proposed $1.6 trillion tax package on the projected 10-year surplus, an estimated $5.6 trillion. The sketchy outline of the budget proposes spending for discretionary programs at 4 percent above inflation. The President revealed a plan to establish a $1 trillion dollar contingency fund for unexpected needs and talked about education as a top priority. He would add $5 billion for reading programs, increase spending for character education, teacher recruitment and training. Bush would increase spending for parks, medical research and military pay, as well as veterans' programs. The President delivered his remarks to a largely friendly congressional audience that gave him much applause throughout the speech. Democrats did not always join in the congratulations, but the President's charm was clear throughout as he thanked Congress for its welcome to a new President. EDUCATION PROPOSALS In the President's written budget outline released today (www.WhiteHouse.gov), education program proposals include an early childhood reading initiative, local flexibility, compressing Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities and 21st Century Community Learning Centers together, and "streamlining more than a half- dozen education technology programs into one flexible grant." There is no specific mention of the E-rate in this context. Additionally states could redirect funds previously provided for the school renovation program to their most pressing needs "including special education". The higher education section refers to an additional $1 billion for Pell Grants, increasing the maximum need-based grant aid to low income students. The President intends to increase funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCU Graduate Schools and Hispanic-Serving Institutions by 6.4 percent. Also included would be increased funding for charter schools. The Education section details a $433 million accomplished in savings to be redirected to higher priorities, by discontinuing all one-time projects from 2001 and eliminating funding for short- term activities whose purposes have been met. There are no further details as to which programs will be discontinued. There is no mention in this budget document of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, either under Interior or Education. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Mary Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet and Claudette Tennant. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Jennifer Hendrix, Carrie Russell and Saundra Shirley. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.