Democrats’ Plan to Hold Spending at ’06 Levels Will Eliminate Earmarks, Cost Academe in Other Ways

Federal spending for student aid and scientific research in the 2007 fiscal year will be frozen at last year’s levels, and most academic earmarks will be eliminated, under a plan announced on Monday by chairmen of the Congressional appropriations committees. College lobbyists and a senior Democrat said that there remained a slim chance for some increases in education programs.