Duncan cites Pell Grants in 13.3% budget rise -

With the attention of lawmakers focused squarely on reducing the nation’s debt, Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Wednesday defended his department’s request for a budget increase in fiscal 2012. “You can’t sacrifice the future to pay for the present,” Mr. Duncan told members of a Senate subcommittee. “I want all of us to work together [to reduce America’s budget deficits and debt] in a way that does not undermine the education of our nation and the education of our children.” The Education Department is seeking a 13.3 percent budget increase over 2011, which would make department spending 20.7 percent higher than 2010 levels. At a time of belt-tightening across the federal government, Republicans have little interest in budget increases. While the proposal could pass the Democrat-controlled Senate, it likely will face stiff resistance in the Republican-led House.