Strayhorn blasts Perry on education, leadership

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF ^ | Wednesday, March 31, 2004 | By Sarah Kleiner

[Arrowhead1952]

Comptroller calls for date to be set for special session on school finance.

By Sarah Kleiner

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn used a speech before the Texas Association of Counties on Wednesday to lambaste Gov. Rick Perry for a delay in calling a special legislative session to fix the way public schools are funded.

Perry has suggested that he will call a special session this spring but has said he is trying to get other state leaders to agree on a plan before he picks a date.

"This year he tells us a special session is coming when there is a consensus on this, and still no date has been set," Strayhorn told the crowd of about 200. "I say his learning curve should now be complete, and if it's not, we need new leadership willing not to delay, not to cajole, not to offer patchwork proposals packaged in lofty titles."

Kathy Walt, Perry's spokeswoman, said the governor is trying to hash out a plan with legislators, educators and parents from across the state before he calls the special session.

"Never have shrill negative attacks or name-calling educated a child, created a job, cut property taxes or solved any problem," Walt said in a statement.

Strayhorn also attacked a proposal Perry's office is floating for a split tax roll, which would result in different property tax rates for businesses and homeowners.

"It is a sham to preach excellence and deliver mediocrity," she said.

In a nod to her audience of county officials, Strayhorn said local governments are not enamored with the notion that state lawmakers might impose caps on local property tax rates as part of school finance reform.

"When it comes to property taxes in general, I believe the governor does not understand that homeowners want cuts, not caps," Strayhorn said.

Many have speculated that Strayhorn will run against Perry for governor in the 2006 election, but she said she is focusing on her job as comptroller "24/7."

The two Republican lawmakers have tangled frequently.

Strayhorn refused to certify the state's budget in June after accusing lawmakers of being off in their math by $185.9 million, and Perry stripped Strayhorn's office of two high-profile programs in October.

"For seven painful months we have watched the decisions this governor sign off on and sign into law literally rip this state apart," Strayhorn said. "It's time for the hemorrhaging to stop."

She accused Perry of "sitting on" $583 million that could be used for children's health care.

She urged Perry to "make one simple phone call" to stop new regulations scheduled to take effect next month that will reduce the number of children eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Strayhorn said 119,000 children — or 23 percent — have been removed from the program since September and estimated that thousands more will be ineligible if the regulations become effective in May.

She maintained that her proposals during the last regular session — a $1 tax increase on cigarettes and video lottery terminals at racetracks — would have prevented health care cuts.

[Arrowhead1952]

Many have speculated that Strayhorn will run against Perry for governor in the 2006 election, but she said she is focusing on her job as comptroller "24/7."

This is pure BS. Strayhorn has done very little "focusing" on her job of comptroller lately. This is a CYA statement by the Austin Ultra Liberal Rag for her.

[sinkspur]

Strayhorn doesn't have a prayer against Perry.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

marked

[grobdriver]

"It is a sham to preach excellence and deliver mediocrity," she said.

She should talk.
We had to listen to her speak at my daughter's commencement at A&M. Droned on and on and on - nothing to do with inspiring the graduates, rather "I did this and I did that...
This woman is pure BS wrapped in a grandma dress.

[pwatson]

When I met State Auditors from her office all thier cards had Carole Keeton Strayhorn in huge Font across the middle of the business cards and then the actual persons name in very small font below that. I have never seen such a bloated ego like her, it's way too big for the Texas Republican party, she belongs in the LBJ Democrat wing.

[sinkspur]

As I recall, she was a Democrat until 12 years ago.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

As I recall, she was a Democrat until 12 years ago.

.... and so was Perry .....

[Arrowhead1952]

Strayhorn vs Perry ping.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I do not think the real point here should be the Strayhorn vs Perry problem, but the timing of the legislative session to fix school financing.

Some very conservative state reps are pushing to put off the session until after the Nov. elections so "we can pick up more seats." They are far more concerned with improving our numbers than the mess they have created in school financing.

[FITZ]

I sure hope not --- she's making CHIP into some kind of "family" benefit --- but more working families are being killed by extreme property taxes --- it's getting ridiculous how high property taxes are here in this part of Texas.

[ladtx]

Carole Keeton Strayhorn...

You mean Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn? How many names has she had?

[MEG33]

Strayhorn for Governor?...Good Grief!

[af_vet_rr]

Strayhorn doesn't have a prayer against Perry.

Strayhorn has a helluva lot more support than you may think (here's a hint, two of her sons work directly for President Bush). Some have said Bush/Rove are not fond of Perry either.

There are a lot of people in Texas that remember Perry as one of the rising stars of the democrat party back in the 1980s. They remember him changing to the GOP not because he felt he had more in common with us, but because Gramm and others told him the days of the democrat party running Texas were over and he should switch if he wants to go anywhere.

[Arrowhead1952]

I do not think the real point here should be the Strayhorn vs Perry problem, but the timing of the legislative session to fix school financing.

You are correct on this point, but Strayhorn has had diarrhea of the mouth lately. She cuts down Perry in public, every chance she gets.

[Arrowhead1952]

You mean Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn? How many names has she had?

No kidding. She goes thru last names quite fast.

[MeekOneGOP]

Strayhorn would be better off if she'd keep her mouth SHUT !! There is NO WAY I would vote for her in a primary race for governor. Sheesh !! ...

"This year he tells us a special session is coming when there is a consensus on this, and still no date has been set," Strayhorn told the crowd of about 200. "I say his learning curve should now be complete, and if it's not, we need new leadership willing not to delay, not to cajole, not to offer patchwork proposals packaged in lofty titles."

Kathy Walt, Perry's spokeswoman, said the governor is trying to hash out a plan with legislators, educators and parents from across the state before he calls the special session.

"Never have shrill negative attacks or name-calling educated a child, created a job, cut property taxes or solved any problem," Walt said in a statement.

[Arrowhead1952]

Strayhorn for Governor?...Good Grief!

No joke. There is only one thing that would make me want to puke more on Nov. 3, 2004. That would be: DumbocRAT presidential elect __________________.

[YCTHouston]

I'm sorry, but you're all missing the most crucial fact in this article: she is calling for a $1 INCREASE in the cigarette tax. She has every right to challenge Perry, and maybe somebody needs to. But a $1 TAX INCREASE. This is unacceptable.

Maybe her campaign slogan should be something like:
Carol Keeton-McClellan-Rylander-Strayhorn: A Tax Raiser by Any Other Name.

[af_vet_rr]

You are correct on this point, but Strayhorn has had diarrhea of the mouth lately. She cuts down Perry in public, every chance she gets.

She is ripping him a bit too much publicly.

A friend has an amusing theory that because she's a Longhorn and Perry's an Aggie, she's angry over UT football and basketball failures and takes it out on an Aggie (meanwhile the Aggies would kill for the records of our "failures").

[Arrowhead1952]

she's angry over UT football and basketball failures and takes it out on an Aggie

The old US 290 / TX 21 football rivalry is a great theory.