In an attempt to win back her crown as Miss Congeniality among anti-school-choice Democrats, Olympia Snowe (R-ME) strolled to the well of the Senate yesterday evening to stab her fellow Mainer, Sen. Susan Collins, in the back by voting against the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. Ms. Collins is one of the program’s chief champions. Despite the courage demonstrated by Senators Dianne Feinstein, Bill Nelson, Mark Warner, and Joe Lieberman - who voted FOR the voucher program - Sen. Snowe’s status as the lone Republican vote against the program was anything but courageous. Whether she likes Sen. Collins or not - or whether she wants to curry favor with Democrats or not (she does), Sen. Snowe’s vote today left DC kids… snowed under.

(In another bit of Maine news, yesterday, the state legislature again denied families another form school choice when their Education Committee endorsed an “innovative schools” bill which had all references to charter school removed before moving on to the main body.)

At least two legislators on The Hill are keeping their wits about them during the current Congressional spending spree.  Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have been working to trim the fat from their colleagues’ massive economic stimulus proposal.  The recommended DOE cuts alone would save taxpayers almost $15 billion (more than 10% of the current proposal) - and this doesn’t even take into account the State Stabilization Fund, which also includes money for education:

Elimination of Disability Research - $610,000,000
Reduction of IDEA - $6,750,000,000
Reduction of Title I Funding - $6,500,000,000
Reduction of Head Start - $1,050,000,000
Reduction of Teacher Quality Partnership Grants - $50,000,000
TOTAL - $14,960,000,000

At least it’s a start.

On the other hand, folks are already salivating over the myriad ways to get their hands on some of the stimulus cashola.  Lining up at the trough before it is filled seems to be a sport of sorts, and Thompson Publishing is fanning the flames of desire with School Grants 2009, their guide to the education money and how to get it.  The amazing thing is that a subscription to School Grants 2009 even pays for itself.  Thomson reminds prospective clients that:

“Don’t forget, your federal grant money can be used to pay for this product.”

Priceless.