Associated Press

President Bush addresses a gathering at Justina Elementary School in Jacksonville, Fla., yesterday. Bush is in Florida to promote his reading education program in Congress.

Tuesday September 11, 2001

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - President Bush urged Congress yesterday to set aside partisan bickering and pass his education package so America's teachers can ``wage war on illiteracy in the young.''

Bush made a fourth trip to Florida, the state governed by his brother Jeb, for two days of school visits as part of a weeklong emphasis on reading. He talked up his education reforms at Justina Elementary School before flying on to Sarasota, Fla., for the night. But Congress - especially the Republican leadership - was more preoccupied yesterday with the idea of both cutting capital gains taxes and lowering Social Security payroll taxes as a way of nudging the economy toward recovery. Bush himself did not address the issue and his spokesman glossed over the GOP demands for action on that front, saying the president is ``open-minded'' toward ideas that promote economic growth but will continue to put faith in his own recovery plan.

``The president's eyes are on the big picture,'' Ari Fleischer said. ``He knows that Republicans want to have reasoned, sound judgment.''

Bush's education bill has sat on Capitol Hill for much of the year. The House and Senate have both passed versions of the revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides most of the federal support for K-12 schools, but a compromise has remained elusive, mainly over the cost of the package.

The House bill provides for $24 billion on education programs, while the Senate plan set aside $33 billion. Congressional Democrats argued for greater federal investment.

``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 president 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.''

The president said he feels a good compromise plan will be reached once Congress sets aside partisan squabbling. "I'm confident that with the right attitude in Washington - and we did need a little attitude adjustment in terms of trying to focus on good public policy - ... that we can get a good bill out,'' Bush said. ``It is now time for people to act in the nation's capital and get the bill to my desk. It's time to wage war on illiteracy in the young and to whip this problem early.''

With Gov. Jeb Bush and Education Secretary Rod Paige in tow, Bush schmoozed pre-schoolers in the hallway. He posed for pictures standing among the little ones, their heads barely above his knees.

Outside the school, neighborhood sentiment toward Bush ran hot and cold. Some residents held up posters thanking Bush for their tax rebates, while one man chanted ``No More Bush'' and another hoisted a cardboard sign reading, ``Bush Boys Are Punks.'' The president told a forum of parents and educators that he hopes congressional negotiators will embrace his proposal for $900 million a year for local school districts to develop diagnostic reading programs.

``Reading is essential. And we've got to get it right as a nation,'' Bush said. ``My attitude is, if it takes teaching reading all day long, do it and get it right before we move children through the system.''

The White House announced a federal commitment to regional ``reading academies'' that would help states and school districts use new ``research-based'' reading instruction. Bush also unveiled government-prepared literature for parents and teachers meant to bolster reading instruction. Teachers' unions urged support for the Senate version of the bill. The National Education Association said Florida schools would receive $361 million less for needy students under the administration plan - enough to fund more than 4,000 teachers' positions. The union said schools in Jacksonville would receive $19 million less for needy students, while those in Sarasota would receive $46 million less for special education programs.

The American Federation of Teachers late yesterday issued a report alleging that, given current inflation rates, Bush's education plan would likely decrease funding that 18 states receive next year for education programs that help poor children.