Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 29, 1993 TAG: 9307290152
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The measure sailed through the Democratic-controlled House 275-152 despite Republican complaints that it would cost too much and slow military recruiting by providing superior benefits.
Allowing college students to work off their student loans through community service was a major Clinton campaign promise. The program approved by the House was a sharply scaled-back version.
In the House, 26 Republicans joined 248 Democrats and an independent in voting in favor of the measure while five Democrats and 147 Republicans opposed the bill.
Of the Virginia delegation, all Democratic members voted for the measure; all Republicans voted against it.
Despite heavy opposition to the program among House Republicans, Clinton issued a statement praising the GOP lawmakers who voted for the bill. "House Republicans put service ahead of politics," the president said in a statement. "I urge Senate Republicans to do the same."
Senate Republicans have been filibustering the bill and Democratic leaders in the Senate planned to try today to get the 60 votes required to cut off debate even as they continued to negotiate with GOP lawmakers.
Clinton's statement said the House action "proved that government can work - without partisan rancor, in the spirit of community, and for the common good."
"Now that the House Republicans and Democrats have joined in this great act of civic service, I urge Republican senators to put partisan politics aside and do what is right for this country," Clinton said.
The bill leaves Clinton's proposal largely intact. But the amount of tuition was reduced to $9,450 from $10,000 after Republicans objected that participants would have a better college aid program than military people.
"This is going to hurt military recruitment and it's going to have an adverse impact on the military preparedness in the long run in this country," said Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind. "I think there should be no comparison whatsoever between the benefits for those who risk their lives for this country and people who go out and work in a park someplace."
Clinton proposed allowing college students to earn up to $10,000 in tuition assistance in return for two years of community service. They also would receive stipends of at least $7,400 a year and health-care and child day-care benefits.
Under the GI Bill, military people who put up $1,200 of their own money may accumulate up to $5,250 a year for three years to spend on college tuition.
Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., proposed lowering the national service amount to $4,200 a year for two years, equal to 80 percent of what military people may receive. But Rep. G.V. Montgomery, D-Miss., convinced both sides to accept $4,725 a year, or 90 percent.
Clinton's plan would cost $2.1 billion in its first three years, beginning with 25,000 students first year and eventually growing to 150,000.
After an emotional three-hour debate, the House rejected 253-180 an amendment by Rep. Bill Baker, R-Calif., that would have barred agencies with national service program participants from serving illegal aliens.
Baker said his amendment made sense because "that's what we require of our employers."
But Democrats argued that the amendment would keep charitable groups from providing meals or other basic needs without the burden of checking to see if recipients were either citizens or legal immigrants.
by CNB