House votes to ban dial-a-porn services

WASHINGTON The House on Tuesday approved a ban on pornographictelephone message services, rejecting arguments that the measure isunconstitutional.

The ban, which was approved earlier in the Senate, was includedin an $8.3 billion education bill passed 397-1. Final Senate actionon the package was expected today.

The bill renews all major federal elementary and secondaryeducation programs and authorizes new programs to prevent dropoutsand help high school students with weak skills.

Adoption of the tough anti-pornography provision was a victoryfor conservative lawmakers, who claim thousands of children have beenpsychologically hurt from calling so-called …