The Senate has cut a school construction program championed by U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge.

A bipartisan amendment to the stimulus package already passed by the House would trim a program to help local school districts get zero-interest construction bonds from $25 billion to $13 billion.

Etheridge has long pushed the tax credits as an efficient way to help build new schools while leaving construction under local control.

It's not clear whether the spending cut will remain yet, since Congressional leaders have not decided how to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill, which differ by more than $100 billion in spending.

"We don't know yet what the next step will be," said spokeswoman Joanne Peters.

She said House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Charles Rangel is working with Etheridge to try to restore the full funding to the final version of the bill.