Support Scouts Or Lose Funding Schools Told
Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter in Washington

(December 12, Washington)  Schools that refuse to allow the boy scouts to use their facilities will lose federal money.

The clause was tacked onto President Bush's education plan by Senator Jesse Helms and allowed to stand by a House-Senate panel Tuesday.  

The agreement on the total wording of the bill means passage by both houses of Congress is virtually certain.

Overall, the education bill would authorize $26.5 billion next year for K-12 education – about $8 billion more than this year and about $4 billion more than Bush had requested, but nearly $6 billion less than Senate Democrats wanted. The final figure will probably be lower.

A White House spokesperson declined comment on the Helms amendment.

The bill requires all students in grades three through eight to take the tests, with scores affecting a school's federal aid.

President Bush has made the legislation a domestic priority; he could put his signature on a final bill as early as next week.