House Republicans on Thursday released their draft 2012 budget for labor, health and education programs, a giant $153.4 billion measure that moves toward the Democrats in total dollars but still challenges President Barack Obama almost across the board on labor rules and his prized education and healthcare reforms.

Total appropriations would fall $4 billion from 2011, but in line with the August budget accords, Republicans have agreed to restore at least $14.2 billion in additional reductions that had been called for by their budget resolution last April.

Public school Title 1 and special education assistance emerge with significant funding increases above 2011. The National Institutes of Health are promised a $1 billion increase in program activity and Head Start – once a target for the GOP – would get a $540 million increase, as requested by Obama.

Yet to keep the maximum annual Pell Grant at $5,550, the bill would institute tighter eligibility standards that could disqualify thousands of low-income college students. Obama’s Race to the Top education initiative would be wiped out entirely; deep cuts would be made in aid to Hispanic education institutions. And the bill seeks both to block the administration from proceeding with health care reforms and to rescind […]