S. 1133 and HR 2646 Briefing
Parents and Students Savings Accounts Plus (PASS A+) Act
Education Savings Act for Public and Private Schools

Bill Summary & Status for the 105th Congress Found at:
<http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html>

SPONSOR: Sen. Coverdell (introduced 07/31/97)
SPONSOR: Rep Archer (introduced 10/09/97)

A+Accounts.

The Senate reached an agreement late last Friday night, March 26, that will delay voting on Sen. Paul Coverdell’s (R-GA) PASS A+ Act (H.R. 2646) until after the Easter congressional recess, which ends April 20. The agreement would allow Democrats, who had filibustered the bill for weeks, to offer 12 amendments to the A+ education savings account legislation. Most of the amendments will likely be unrelated to the bill’s purpose, which is to allow parents to save money in tax-exempt accounts for their children’s K-12 public, private, or home education. Democrats want funding for federal programs like school construction and childcare and have held the PASS A+ legislation hostage in an effort to move their agenda. The amendments and the bill itself will require only a simple majority (51) of Senators voting "yes" for passage. Please urge your senators to support Sen. Coverdell’s PASS A+Act (HR 2646).
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, April 3, 1998]

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Fate of Education Savings Accounts Still Undetermined.

Sen. Paul Coverdell’s (R-GA) PASS A+ Act (HR 2646) still lingers in the Senate after an attempt to end a Democrat-led filibuster failed by a vote of 58-42 on Thursday, March 26. Supposedly, the legislation is favored now by a number of Democrat senators who would vote for the bill itself once cloture is passed. However, the Clinton administration and the education elite bitterly oppose the legislation and are pressuring senators who have voiced interest in supporting the bill. Opponents erroneously claim that ESAs would only help rich students in private schools. However, one estimate by the Joint Tax Committee says that 75 percent of the funds would be used by public school students. The bill also allows any individual or group to donate to a child’s ESA which will help poorer students and encourage investment in education. Last year, the House passed the same legislation that would allow contributions up to $2,500 annually into ESAs. Another cloture vote is scheduled for Monday, March 29. Please call your senators and urge them to support Sen. Coverdell’s PASS A+Act (HR 2646). The Capitol switchboard number for the Senate is 202-224-3121.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, March 27, 1998]

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Education Savings Accounts Continued.

This week, liberal senators continued to block Sen. Paul Coverdell’s (R-GA) Education Savings Accounts bill (HR 2646). The Senate has been debating the House-passed bill. The measure would increase education opportunities for schoolchildren by allowing withdrawals from tax-free education savings accounts for K-12 public, private, or home school expenses. For weeks, Sen. Coverdell and others who desire to allow parents to save their own money for their children’s education attempted to end the filibuster waged by opponents of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). President Clinton and most members of the education "blob" are working frantically to kill the legislation, erroneously claiming that ESAs would only help rich students in private schools. However, one estimate by the Joint Tax Committee says that 75 percent of the funds would be used by public school students. The bill also allows any individual or group to donate to a child's ESA which will help poorer students and encourage investment in education. Last year, the House passed the same legislation that would allow contributions up to $2,500 annually into ESAs. The Senate will try again to end the filibuster on Tuesday, March 24. Sixty senators must vote for "cloture" in order to end the filibuster, and a vote on the legislation itself would then be taken. Please call your senators and urge them to support Coverdell’s Education Savings Accounts (HR 2646). The Capitol Switchboard number for the Senate is 202-224-3121. [Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, March 20, 1998]

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Senate Vote on Education Savings Accounts.

The Senate postponed the vote on the Parents and Students Savings Accounts Plus (PASS A+) Act (S. 1133) due to continuing debate on a massive transportation bill. The vote is now expected to occur during the week of March 16. . . . Opponents of ESAs are again attempting to filibuster the legislation. Senators debated ESAs on Friday, March 13 and will likely vote to end the filibuster on Tuesday, March 17.
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, March 13, 1998]

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Senate Gets Another Chance to Pass Education Savings Accounts.

The Senate is expected to consider Sen. Paul Coverdell's (R-GA) Parents and Students Savings Accounts Plus (PASS A+) Act (S. 1133) the week of March 2. Last year, . . . Senators voted 56-44 in favor of Sen. Coverdell's A+ Education Savings Accounts bill, but lacked the necessary 60 votes to end the filibuster. However, several senators who opposed ESAs last year voted for the legislation in committee in early February. . . .
[Source: Family Research Council’s LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE, Friday, February 27, 1998]

S. 1133 Summary from "Thomas" U.S. government WEB site
HR 2646 Summary from "Thomas" U.S. government WEB site
WTV National Bill & Issue Watch