Education and the Federal Budget Showdown

The White House and Congress are engaged in a major budget debate that threatens a government shutdown and could markedly influence federal education funding. Congressional Democrats have proposed significant increases in education spending for Fiscal Year 2008, while the President has proposed to cut Education Department funding and threatened to veto relevant spending bills.

The panelists at this New America event discussed the current budget debate and its implications for federal education funding; lessons from past budget negotiations; and possible scenarios for resolution of the current conflict. Peter Cohn of Congress Daily explored the major factors underlying this year’s appropriations fight. Barbara Chow, a former Clinton White House liaison and budget negotiator, shared her insights from past negotiations. And New America’s Heather Rieman presented new research on federal education funding.

New America also released an issue brief: The 2007 Budget Showdown: The Facts Behind Education Funding. Video of this event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.

Participants

• Peter Cohn
  Budget and Appropriations Reporter
  CongressDaily
• Barbara Chow
  Policy Director
  U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Budget
• Heather Rieman
  Policy Analyst, Education Policy Program
  New America Foundation
• Jason Delisle
  Research Director, Education Policy Program
  New America Foundation