House Republicans Vote to Allow More Media Manipulation and Fake News Reports at Taxpayer Expense

Rules Committee Republicans Vote to Shut Out
Amendments and Limit Debate on Education

Washington, DC - On Tuesday evening, May 3^rd, the House Rules Committee reported a restrictive rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 366-the Vocational & Technical Education for the Future Act.   It is anticipated that this rule and the bill will be on the House floor tomorrow, Wednesday, May 4^th.

"This is just more of the same from an arrogant Republican Majority hell bent on keeping the voice of the American people out of their government," said Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules.

The rule did not allow an amendment by Ranking Member Miller (CA) which would have prohibited the Department of Education from using Federal funds to pay journalists or media commentators to engage in publicity or propaganda and also required that pre-packaged news segments paid with Federal funds disclose such funding in the segment.  Unfortunately, this responsible and much needed amendment was denied on a straight party-line vote.

A total of 8 amendments were submitted to the Rules Committee on this bill, seven by Democrats and one Republican amendment. The rule makes in order only three amendments: # 3 by Rep. Castle  which provides that funding for Tech-Prep activities are held harmless to the amount that was appropriated to the Tech-Prep in FY05 in order to reinforce the consolidation of the Tech-Prep program with the Basic State Grant program; #8 by Rep. Millender-McDonald which establishes an Automotive Technician Workers Training Program that will provide funding to train automotive technicians to work on hybrid, hydrogen, and alternative fuel technologies in the new automobile fleets sold in the US; and #1 by Rep. Wu which allows states, as part of their state leadership activities, to use funds designed to facilitate the transition of vocational and career education students into baccalaureate degree programs.

Democratic Amendments Not Allowed:

# 2 Holt - Establishes a federal fund for local programs that seek to give American manufacturing workers additional skills and educational training. These funds would be used to provide competitive grants to states with high levels of unemployment in the manufacturing sector. States would then offer grants on a competitive basis to local consortiums of K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, advanced manufacturing industries, and employer and labor organizations. Each grant recipient would conduct a needs analysis of their local workforce, and provide training to individuals seeking to work in advanced manufacturing vacations.

#7 Kildee - Authorizes a high school dropout prevention program

#5 Miller (CA) - Prohibits the Department of Education from using Federal funds to pay journalists or media commentators to engage in publicity or propaganda and requires pre-packaged news segments paid with Federal funds to disclose such funding in the segment.

#4 Owens - Authorizes need based grants for school construction and repair for vocational and technical education programs

#6 Woolsey - Authorizes grants to encourage girls to study and pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology