Millions from Education Lobby to Block Budget Cuts - ERIC PIANIN and BRIANNA EHLEY, The Fiscal Times

With at least $16 billion in federal funds and grants at stake next year if the government goes over the fiscal cliff, the nation’s universities and primary and secondary education systems are waging a pricey and unprecedented lobbying effort to try to protect those funds from automatic cuts set to take effect in early January. College presidents, governors, state officials and even local school board members are working feverishly to rally support among lawmakers and the Obama administration to protect education from the budget knife. Their efforts have included intense letter writing campaigns, social media and websites illustrating the likely impact of the cuts on states and individual school districts, and face-to-face meetings with members of Congress. http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2012/12/07/Millions-from-Education-Lobby-to-Block-Budget-Cuts.aspx