Obama's Education Budget Faces Uphill Climb

AP (2/16, Amario) reports, "President Barack Obama's budget request for increased spending in education is likely to face a tough fight against Republicans - and even if ends up being approved, the extra money wouldn't stave off another round of layoffs and classroom cuts expected this year as federal aid dries up and states struggle to recover from the recession. ... 'There's no question these are some of the toughest budget times we've seen in decades,'" said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. "'We've called this the new normal.'"