Donna Garner: This is an example of Democrat politicians (e.g., Chet Edwards, Lloyd Doggett, etc.) who wrote and passed the Doggett Amendment in hopes it would help them get re-elected to Congress in November. Their amendment attached to H. R. 186 was meant to “buy off” Texas voters with federal funds. In trying desperately to build their Democrat voter base in urban school settings, the Doggett Amendment gives lots of federal dollars to them but at the same time robs of federal funds 852 rural and suburban school districts (where Republican voters typically reside).
Those 852 rural and suburban school district superintendents should tell Chet Edwards, Lloyd Doggett, and the other Texas Democrat delegation to quit trying to use taxpayers’ federal funding of the schools to further their political futures. Not only is the Doggett Amendment “political theater” but it also defies the Texas Constitution. Commissioner of Education Robert Scott, an experienced education attorney, knows the law; and he is doing everything he can to follow it. I believe that Chet Edwards, Lloyd Doggett, and the other Texas Democrat Congressmen should do the same.
Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott
State tries to access federal education funds held up by rule
By KAREL HOLLOWAY | August 28, 2010 | The Dallas Morning News
State and federal education officials met in Washington on Friday but did not come to an agreement over $830 million in extra school funds Texas stands to receive.
“While today’s meeting did not produce an immediate solution, we will continue to work with the Department of Education and others to determine the best path forward to try to access these funds for Texas schools,” Education Commissioner Robert Scott said in a statement.
Scott and the governor’s senior adviser Mike Morrissey met with U.S. Department of Education Deputy Secretary Tony Miller and are working on a way to allow Texas to get the money despite conditions placed on the grant.
Those conditions are at the center of a dispute between Republican Gov. Rick Perry and a leading congressional Democrat from Texas, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin. Both are running for re-election.
Congress approved a bill earlier this month that provides $10 billion in aid to help prevent the loss of 160,000 education jobs nationwide. Texas’ share of that is about $830 million.
The state has until Sept. 9 to apply for the funds.
But Doggett included a special provision in the federal legislation, requiring Perry to assure that Texas will keep education funding at the current percentage of state appropriations through 2013.
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Doggett is taking lessons in rule by fiat from the top, isn’t he? Looks like he’s getting the hang of it.
Who possibly can “win” from the hurdles and hoops put in place by Mr. Doggett? Easy to cite the losers, though. Unfortunately, it’s Texas school children……
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