THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610050649
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION '96
As Virginians look forward to the Nov. 5 election, they're thinking a
lot about issues that are important in their lives. Leadership.
Economic security. Education. Crime. National priorities. Each Sunday,
we will hear from candidates and citizens about these issues.
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE AND PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: 153 lines
Why all the fuss about education in this fall's U.S. Senate election?
After all, the federal government provides only 6 percent of the operational costs of Virginia's public schools. The rest is almost equally footed by state and local governments. And both candidates agree that, if anything, there should be more local control and less interference from Washington in running our schools.
The federal government has even less sway in the running of our state colleges and universities. Higher education costs are almost entirely paid through tuitions and state subsidies to schools. Congress doesn't set admission policies or regulate course offerings.
So why is Democratic challenger Mark R. Warner running a big-dollar television advertising campaign accusing his opponent of being insensitive to education issues? And why is three-term Republican incumbent John W. Warner vigorously insisting his foe has it all wrong?
The reason is that federal government still plays gigantic supporting and symbolic roles in promoting education.
Although Congress contributes little directly to classrooms, it doles about $550 million to Virginia each year for preschool programs for low-income youths, school lunch subsidies, research grants for universities and medical schools, and tuition grants for needy students.
In addition, last year Washington helped make college affordable for almost 100,000 Virginians by guaranteeing $226.8 million in tuition loans.
With Congress embarking on a seven-year program to balance the federal budget, many of these education programs will face scrutiny and possible revamping. ``If the pie is going to be shrinking, there's going to be a lot of fighting over the number and size of the slices,'' said David Merkowitz, spokesman for the American Council on Education, the nation's largest lobbying group for colleges.
Virginians clearly want Congress to balance the budget, but not at the expense of education, according to a poll of 672 state residents conducted for The Virginian-Pilot this summer.
The survey showed that concerns run far deeper than maintaining the funding and curricula for schools and colleges. Educational opportunities were viewed as long-range solutions to worries about joblessness, the changing economy and crime.
``I think I saw a bumper sticker or a t-shirt that said, `If you think education is expensive, try ignorance,' '' said Sean Johnson, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University who participated this summer in a community conversation with The Virginian-Pilot. ``The real quality of life is having a good education.''
The federal government ensures fairness in education by enacting and enforcing laws guaranteeing equal access and non-discrimination in public learning centers.
And perhaps most importantly, Congress and the White House hold the nation's loftiest bully pulpit in promoting and directing learning.
``They set the national education agenda . . . the intellectual climate,'' said Maurice R. Berube, professor of education at Old Dominion University. ``It doesn't come out of Richmond or Albany. Since World War II, states have tended to follow suit, more or less.''
As evidence, Berube cited a list of conservative educational proposals that have dominated debate since Republicans took control of Congress last year. They include abolishing the federal Department of Education, introducing taxpayer support of private schools and permitting organized school prayer.
Marian Flickinger, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers, added: ``Who's up there in Congress is extremely important to public education. We've got to be seen as a viable component of making kids fundamental citizens.''
Not surprisingly, education is a key topic in this fall's Senate race. Democrat Mark Warner, a 41-year-old cellular telephone mogul, has made it the main theme of his campaign. He says schools and universities must harness and teach computer technology if our children are to successfully compete in the 21st century job market.
``If not, I'm afraid we'll have two Virginias and two Americas in the future,'' he said. ``Those people who understand the technological challenge will get good jobs. Those who don't will be left behind.''
Although Republican John Warner, 69, barely mentions education in his speeches, his advisers say the topic is implicit in his agenda. ``Our focus is on jobs, balancing the budget and fighting crime,'' said Eric Peterson, Warner's campaign spokesman. ``Central to all of that is education.''
Mark Warner says he would make education and technology his top priority as a senator - something he argues John Warner has never done.
``I think even he would agree that education has never been a priority with him,'' Mark Warner said. ``National security and defense has been his focus. There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying education would be my priority.''
On commercials and in debates, Mark Warner has criticized John Warner for supporting unsuccessful GOP efforts to cut taxes by $245 billion in 1995 at the expense, in part, of important education programs. The Democrat cites Warner's vote in favor of an Omnibus Budget Bill that would have helped finance the tax relief with $40 billion in cuts to education, job training and student loan programs.
``In choosing his priorities, he has chosen tax cuts over education,'' Mark Warner said. ``I wouldn't have made that choice.''
John Warner said his rival ``is absolutely intentionally distorting my record.''
The budget bill, he said, sought to commit Congress to tax reduction and suggest a number of non-binding areas where money committees could find savings.
Peterson said Warner did not like the recommended cuts to education but voted for the non-amendable bill to express his overall support for cutting taxes. Peterson said Warner has since supported appropriations retaining full funding of the education programs.
Mark Warner also has cited a litany of votes Warner has cast against President Clinton's efforts to increase the federal government's role in making loans to college students.
Typically, students go to banks for loans, which the government guarantees against default. Washington directly finances only 10 percent of the loans. Clinton and many Democrats argue that the loan program would be more efficient if the government increased its direct lending.
Warner has voted against the proposal, citing a finding by the Congressional Budget Office that increased direct lending would be ``substantially more expensive'' for students. He adds that the debate over the best method of aiding students does not impact the amount of loan money available to them.
Other areas of disagreement include:
Technology in the classroom. Mark Warner faults his foe for voting against requiring technology companies to provide school and libraries low-rate access to telecommunications services such as the Internet.
John Warner, Peterson said, viewed the bill as an unnecessary business regulation. He said the Senator voted for an alternative measure to make $18.9 million in matching grants available to communities seeking to connect to telecommunications services.
National service. Mark Warner supports Clinton's Americorps program, that allows students to defray college expenses by being paid for community service. John Warner has voted against the plan. ``The notion of paid voluntary work is an oxymoron and an anathema to the senator,'' Peterson, the senator's spokesman, said.
Goals 2000. John Warner supports Gov. George F. Allen's refusal to accept about $7 million in federal grant money to develop public school educational standards, saying the program subjects Virginia schools to greater national control. Mark Warner says Virginia should accept the money as all other 49 states have.
Public support for private schools. Mark Warner opposes vouchers - public assistance for students to attend private schools - saying it would mean ``the death of many public schools.'' John Warner supports the concept, saying competition would force public and private schools to improve.
The two candidates don't always disagree, however. Both Warners oppose efforts to abolish the federal Department of Education. They say the department is an important clearinghouse for providing new ideas and measuring results.
The Warners also support more funding for Project Head Start, an early education program for disadvantaged three-and four-year-old children. In Virginia, 11,010 children are enrolled in the program, which is financed with a $50.5 annual federal grant.
That's only enough money to enroll 40 percent of the eligible children in the program.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA
CONGRESSIONAL RACE VIRGINIA ISSUES
CANDIDATES EDUCATION by CNB