Publications	Issue List	Vote Analysis	Main Page
March 29, 2001

GOP Outspends Democrats On Education

Federal Education Spending Increased 50 Percent Under Republican Congress

Whatever education policies you prefer, one thing is indisputable: Since Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, federal education spending has exploded.

• In 1994, the Democrat-controlled Congress spent 7 percent less on education than President Clinton requested.
• The Republican Congress increased nominal federal education spending from $29 billion in 1994 to nearly $47 billion in 2001 - an increase of more than 50 percent in real terms. Congress exceeded President Clinton's request for FY 2001 by more than 7 percent.

Source: Congressional Research Service

Many rightly observe the true test of a politician's devotion to education is how much control he is willing to give parents over their children's schooling. If anything, they argue, spending federal dollars on education shows a lack of concern for education because through taxation and regulation it denies parents control over how their children are educated.

However, Democrats do not make such arguments. To many Democrats, the only measure is how much money a politician is willing to throw at a problem. If that's their yardstick, congressional Democrats should know they're getting their clocks cleaned.

Source: Congressional Research Service

Top

Publications

Issue List

Vote Analysis

Main Page