Politics

Bush Prods Congress On Education

September 10, 2001 / 11:06 AM EDT / AP

President Bush tried to breathe new life into his education agenda Monday, seeking to cajole lawmakers into action.

"I don't think education ought to be a partisan issue," Mr. Bush said at a campaign-style event at an elementary school. "I know reading is not a partisan issue — I mean, getting every child to read in America is an American issue and it ought to be an American goal and it is going to be in this administration."

Mr. Bush also announced a pair of federal initiatives to improve reading instruction.

Before making his fourth visit to Florida as president, Mr. Bush met with Australian Prime Minister John Howard to mark the 50th anniversary of the military alliance between the two nations.

At the Washington Navy Yard, Mr. Bush presented Howard the ship's bell from the USS Canberra, which was struck in 1944 by an aerial torpedo, killing 23 men. The Canberra was named for the capital of Australia and an Australian warship that was lost in 1942.

Mr. Bush joked that the 250-pound gift is "not that easy to move around" but is "a reminder of a faithful partner in times of crisis and in times of calm."

Howard badly wants a commitment from Mr. Bush to begin negotiations on a trade pact, but U.S. officials advised Australia last week they could not make any commitment while the administration was pressing Congress to grant the president sweeping new authority in trade negotiations. Mr. Bush, in brief remarks, made only a general reference to the "virtues of free trade among all nations." Howard is seeking a third term in elections expected in late November.

Mr. Bush has a political problem of his own — the struggling U.S. economy. Last week White House officials called the economy the president's No. 1 priority, a distinction that education had long held. On Sunday, the administration sought to fuse the two issues. "Education is part of our economy, and remains a top priority to the president," spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise said.

The two-day trip to Jacksonville and Sarasota, Fla., opened a week in which Mr. Bush planned to emphasize education, and reading in particular.

The activity comes as congressional negotiators resume work on a schools bill.

Months ago, the House and Senate passed similar versions of the revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides most of the federal support for K-12 schools. Negotiators are working out a compromise between the two bills, but difficult issues remain, chiefly the price tag.

The House and Senate versions of the bill differ drastically in how much money they would provide. The Republican-controlled House proposed about $24 billion, while the Senate, run by Democrats, approved $33 billion. The federal government is spending about $18.4 billion this year on elementary and secondary education.

"The president told us education would be his top priority. Now it's time for him to prove it," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. "We know that the presidet will figure out a way to pay for his $18 billion defense increase. Surely he can find a way to increase funding for our children's education, too."

Seeking to focus public attention on Congress's deliberations, Mr. Bush and Education Secretary Rod Paige were emphasizing reading during the Florida trip, visiting schools in Jacksonville on Monday and Sarasota on Tuesday.

The White House announced a federal commitment to regional "reading academies" that would help prepare states and school districts to use new "research-based" reading instruction and strengthen reading instruction systems. Mr. Bush also unveiled government-prepared literature for parents and teachers meant to bolster reading instruction.

He did not put a price tag on the projects.

Mr. Bush has not been bashful about visiting Florida, ground zero in the vote-recount battle that followed last year's election.

On this trip, he was spending a good deal of time with his brother, Gov. Jeb Bush, who could face a tough re-election fight next year. Former Attorney General Janet Reno announced recently she will seek the office.

The Bush brothers shook hands as the president arrived in Jacksonville, and arranged a joint classroom appearance and planned to dine privately.