SALEM - A measure to allow the state to issue bonds to help pay for repairs of dilapidated school facilities was rejected Tuesday by the Oregon House after opponents called it an "empty" gesture.

The measure would have authorized the state to issue bonds to match funds for school districts that raise property taxes to repair or upgrade school buildings.

Backers of House Joint Resolution 18 said it would offer long-term help to school districts throughout Oregon which are saddled with $2.4 billion worth of deferred maintenance costs.

"This is something that's important to schools. They are asking us to do this," said Rep. Lane Shetterly, R-Dallas.

But the measure went down to defeat after Democratic opponents complained that the proposal offers no relief to school districts that are facing a severe money squeeze now.

"Let's say 'no' to this meaningless gesture and get down to work" finding more state funding for schools in the coming two years, said House Democratic Leader Deborah Kafoury of Portland.

The measure drew 34 "yes" votes to 24 "no" votes, but because it is a proposed constitutional amendment it needed a two-thirds margin, or 40 votes, to win approval.

House rejection of the measure comes after House Democrats last Friday tried to force a showdown on a $6 billion state school support appropriation measure - more than $1 billion above the school funding proposed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski and by legislative budget leaders.

During Tuesday's debate, several lawmakers said the House needs to focus on that school funding debate and not spend time debating a measure that possibly could provide capital construction money to schools years from now.

They said the delay would come because the proposed constitutional amendment first would have been submitted to voters next year, and then it would have been up to the 2005 Legislature to set the bond program in motion.