How to push "Power Button" options via script.

We use an application called Desktop Authority to manage this.  It uses a logon script to set the actions for PCs.  There are sure to be other solutions out there that are cheaper or even free.

You might have a look at the following link
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_mgt_powerconfig

We are a non profit so I must work with what I have. I use powerconfig to set the sleep mode and other switches, but it doesn't seem to work with the lid properties. I would like to find something like powerconfig that I could run from a script.

Are you using group policy to manage the systems??

Yes

According to a post on technet Vista supports GPO management of power options but earlier versions do not (at least out of the box).  The post sent me to the energystar.gov site for a utility called EZ GPO

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_mgt_ez_gpo

this utility appears to allow management of power options via gpo in XP... will require download of 3rd party tool (free)