Heather Rieman: All Publications, Events and Press

New America Foundation in Chronicle of Higher Education | 'President Bush: A Friend of Higher Education After All?'

Communications — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:00:00 -0500

New America in the News:
President Bush: A Friend of Higher Education After All? (The Chronicle of Higher Education, subcription only)

... Mr. Bush has, however, given researchers, and their colleagues throughout higher education, something else of value: money. The president has been "highly successful" in winning increases for higher education from Congress, according to an analysis published last month by the New America Foundation, a Washington-based research and advocacy group that is often critical of the Bush administration.

"Congress adopted nearly all of the significant higher-education funding and policy proposals included in the president's budget requests from 2002 through 2008," including increases in Pell Grants and loan-forgiveness programs, the foundation noted. more

The Bush Education Budget Legacy

Education Policy — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:20:00 -0500

Next week, President George W. Bush will submit his eighth and final budget request to the Congress. How has he fared with respect to education budget proposals thus far? Answer: although President Bush made the No Child Left Behind Act, which deals with elementary and secondary education, the hallmark of his education policy, from a federal education budget standpoint, the Bush administration’s most lasting legacy thus far is in higher education. The New America Foundation’s Federal Education Budget Project evaluated all the Bush administration's past budget requests and finds that the Bush administration has had relatively little success in enacting its… more

Heather Rieman in Education Week on Federal Education Spending

Communications — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:52:00 -0400

New America in the News:

... The 2008 fiscal year began Oct. 1. Congress has passed a measure that continued to finance most federal programs at fiscal 2007 levels until mid-November.

If President Bush follows through on his threat, Democrats in Congress would likely attempt to override a veto of the Labor-HHS-Education bill, but most observers say it doesn’t appear that congressional leaders would have the necessary two-thirds majority.

The House approved the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill by a vote of 276-140 on July 19. More than 140 GOP lawmakers signed a letter, sent to President Bush in May, pledging to support any presidential vetoes on spending bills.

Still, a handful of those Republicans then voted for the education spending bill, so it may be difficult to predict how many lawmakers would agree to sustain a veto, said Heather Rieman, an education policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think tank.

If Congress could not override a veto, the administration and congressional leaders would have to work out a compromise on spending—or agree to continue financing education programs at fiscal 2007 spending levels through the rest of the 2008 fiscal year. ...

For the complete article, please visit Education Week's website.

Analysis of Budget Battle Implications for Education Funding Released by New America

Communications — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:50:00 -0400

The New America Foundation released a paper today providing a detailed analysis of the current budget battle and its implications for education funding. The report finds that education funding has not been a driver of recent increases in federal spending and proposed increases are relatively minor compared to the overall budget.

“One can sincerely argue against education funding increases because of concerns about program effectiveness, efficiency, or value; but to suggest that education spending is the main culprit for busting the federal budget is misguided, if not disingenuous,” said Michael Dannenberg, New America’s Director of Education Policy. … more

Education and the Federal Budget Showdown

Communications — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/04/2007 - 11:00am

The White House and Congress are engaged in a major budget debate that threatens a government shutdown and could markedly influence federal education funding. Congressional Democrats have proposed significant increases in education spending for Fiscal Year 2008, while the President has proposed to cut Education Department funding and threatened to veto relevant spending bills.

The panelists at this New America event discussed the current budget debate and its implications for federal education funding; lessons from past budget negotiations; and possible scenarios for resolution of the current conflict. Peter Cohn of Congress Daily explored the major factors underlying this year’s appropriations fight. Barbara Chow, a former Clinton White House liaison and budget negotiator, shared her insights from past negotiations. And New America’s Heather Rieman presented new research on federal education funding.

New America also released an issue brief: The 2007 Budget Showdown: The Facts Behind Education Funding. Video of this event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.

Budget Showdown 2007: The Facts Behind Education Funding

Education Policy — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 02:12:00 -0400

The White House and Congress are approaching a major budget debate that could markedly influence federal education funding. This is the first budget cycle since 2000 during which different political parties control the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress. The federal budget and appropriations process is rarely without acrimony, but this year’s battle may be especially rancorous.

The Federal Education Budget Project finds that although Congress plans a significant increase in federal spending on schools, teachers, and students -- the most significant this decade when considering discretionary and mandatory sources -- education funding has not been a driver of… more

The Growing College Access Buzz

Education Policy — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:28:00 -0400

To encourage students to attend college, an increasing number of states are creating policy initiatives designed to help low-income and minority students solve the college access puzzle. The best plans provide support to overcome all of the barriers that these students face—academic preparation, information and guidance, and affordability.

Maine and Wisconsin are two of the latest states to work on initiatives that promote college access. Will an increased federal role be far behind?

Maine

In Maine—where only 50 percent of high school graduates attend college directly out… more