Senate Does Its Own Dirty Work

Although the betting was that some Senators would take a free vote and rely on the House to reject mandatory federal funding for special education, instead the Senate rejected mandatory funding today by a 56-41 vote (Republicans used budget rules to require the amendment to have 60 votes to pass). You can see how senators voted by clicking here and follow the progress of other IDEA amendments by clicking here. This could lead to faster passage of the final package and the White House will likely try to get maximum political traction out of passing an education bill this year. Whether they can do so remains to be seen.

Strange Bedfellows IDEA Afterthoughts: The NEA is supporting Senator Santorum’s paperwork reduction pilot program…and Senator McCain voted with the Democrats on mandatory IDEA funding (so did Warner, maybe they really do want to be Defense Secretary!)…