Senate proposes plans to make higher ed. more affordable.(Capitol briefs)

Senate Democrats followed the lead of their House counterparts and introduced a measure to roll back cuts in Pell Grant aid for the coming school year. But the way they introduced it virtually ensures Congress couldn't pass it quickly--even if the Republican majority supported it.

Instead of introducing the measure as a stand-alone bill, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and 19 cosponsors included it in a major Quality Education for All Act, a package of school-related initiatives running the gamut from preschool to higher education. The Senate parliamentarian ruled that the Finance Committee--not the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions--consider the bill. …