
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990                   TAG: 9003202777
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/5   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

DEMOCRATS READY CHILD-CARE ACCORD

House Republicans are accusing Democrats of rushing to the floor for a quick vote this week on a tentative compromise over competing versions of new child-care legislation.

"They've gone behind closed doors, they've cut their deals," Rep. Bob Walker, R-Pa., charged Monday. "Now they're ready to rush it to the floor."

The child-care legislation, which has been stalled for months because of differences among Democrats, was the object of weeks of private negotiations that were continuing today.

Democratic leaders, who control the House agenda, scheduled the bill for floor debate Wednesday and Thursday.

But Rep. David Nagle, D-Iowa, one of the sponsors, told the House on Monday that not all issues had been resolved and that Democrats didn't have copies of the bill either.

Democratic leaders hoped to work out details of their bill in time to seek a special rule from the Rules Committee today limiting floor amendments. Opponents wanted no limit.

The tentative version worked out among Democratic leaders would combine elements of competing child-care proposals. It would expand tax credits for low-income families and increase funding for block grants under Title XX of the Social Security Act, as well as expand Head Start and create a school-based program for before- and after-school care.

It would drop a proposed new program of grants to the states to subsidize child care, which had been The proposal would expand tax credits for low-income families and increase funding for block grants under Title XX of the Social Security Act, as well as expand Head Start and create a school-based program for before- and after-school care. pushed by liberals including Rep. Gus Hawkins, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.

The compromise was expected to face challenges on the House floor, however, from some Republicans and conservative Democrats.

Total cost of the Democrats' version has been estimated at as much as $5 billion a year.

Nagle said Democrats were seeking resolution of final differences over how to provide financial aid to religious institutions that provide child care.

by CNB