By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 17, 2007

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's school takeover legislation has been held up in the U.S. Senate for a second time in two weeks, this time by an anonymous senator who has not informed the Fenty administration of the specific objection.

Fenty aides said yesterday that they do not know which senator has blocked the bill, though they were told it was a Republican.

Fenty (D) is seeking to take direct control of the District's struggling 55,000-student school system, a plan approved by the D.C. Council last month. The mayor had not expected any opposition from Congress, which must approve an amendment to the Home Rule Charter before he can assume authority over the schools from the Board of Education.

The House of Representatives ratified the takeover last week, but Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) blocked the bill when it reached the Senate.

Cardin initially remained anonymous but then came forward to say he was concerned about the District's plan to rebuild a youth detention center in Anne Arundel County. He withdrew his hold on the takeover bill Monday after negotiating with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).

"This is objectionable from every point of view," council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said last night of the senators' actions. "This is a stranglehold on the children of the District of Columbia. . . . Some wonder why the Senate of the United States is even involved in this issue. Don't they have anything else to do concerning the welfare of this nation?"

Fenty aides said they expected to be informed of the anonymous senator's objection today. If the senator pulls the hold, the legislation could be approved by the end of the day.