Posted on 08/10/2010 8:22:32 PM PDT by kbobdelux
By TOM BENNING / The Dallas Morning News tbenning@dallasnews.com WASHINGTON – Texas would have to preserve its current education spending levels through 2013 to qualify for more than $830 million in federal aid, under a Texas-specific provision of a bill passed today by the House.
The mandate passed, along party lines, as part of a $26 billion jobs protection bill, despite strong opposition from Texas Republicans. Several said the amendment unfairly singled out the state and jeopardized its ability to receive the funds.
Hours later, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.
"This is another example of President Obama and the Democratic leadership messing with Texas," said Arlington Republican Joe Barton.
Gov. Rick Perry has deemed the provision unconstitutional because state officials can't guarantee future spending. And last week, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst threatened to sue on the grounds that the restrictions only apply to Texas.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D9HH1E702.html
“It is unfortunate that Washington continues to play partisan games with Texans’ tax dollars and the very future of our children,” Perry said. “Texas will not surrender to Washington’s one-size-fits-all, deficit-spending mindset or let Washington do to the Texas budget what they have done to the federal budget.”
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst issued a statement saying he has “asked the attorney general’s office to explore all legal options to ensure Texas is treated fairly.” Dewhurst, a Republican, said last week he would file a lawsuit against the federal government if the language was not removed.
A spokesman for Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott called the legislation “constitutionally flawed.”
“The attorney general’s office is continuing to coordinate with the leadership as we weigh the state’s options,” said Abbott’s spokesman, Jerry Strickland. “But Texas taxpayers can rest assured that we are prepared to take whatever legal action is necessary to ensure that our schools do not suffer financially from the Doggett amendment’s discriminatory — and constitutionally questionable — provisions.”
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the Austin Democrat who crafted the amendment, called the protests “phony legalistic arguments.”
This is nothing new. Highway funds have been used to strong arm the States for decades. Nothing to see here. Just an Imperial Federal Government.
Lets keep sending them our money so they can screw us over with it.
LOL and Obama was in Dallas yesterday for a fund raiser... wonder how many at that fundraiser will be effected by that little move...” As his secretary of states husband once said...better put some ice on that”
It is time for Texas to make it illegal for any Texan or Texas company to pay any taxes to any Fed agency, including the IRS. Make it illegal for any company operating in Texas to withhold income tax for the Feds. Etc, etc, etc
No, that’s not it ...
Last time — Texas was smart — they used the stimulus money ... to KEEP TAXES LOW!
Liberal LLoyd Doggett hated that, he wants to FORCE TEXAS TO SPEND MORE MONEY.
“Texas lawmakers used $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money to replace state money and ended the legislative session with billions in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Doggett said.”
Honestly, White WILL be signing the budgets ... but then Doggett would NOT do this to a Dem, this was his partisan spiteful way of hatin’ on fiscal conservatives.
“It is time for Texas to make it illegal for any Texan or Texas company to pay any taxes to any Fed agency, including the IRS”
It may happen. And when enough states say “that’s it. We’ve had enough of this insanity” You’ll get your wish.
I would have to say the Ark-La-Tex is the best place to
live when/if the SHTF,,,
The Union Army couldn’t take this place,,,
Only a few ways into this place,,,
We only have to crank down 4 or 5 valves to shut all fuel
to the north,,,
We have plenty of open land to grow all our food,,,
I can’t think of anything at all that we need the north for
that we can’t do for ourselves...
“Equal protection under the law” means nothing to B.O. or the Democrat party.
That's not saying much........
If only, actually they are bribes paid to us with our great grandchildrens money, and this will only stop when the states reassert their constitutional powers through a state called constitutional convention.
But since everyone including conservatives is scared of what might come out of such a convention (they could do ANYTHING) it will probably never happen.
You’re right about the Ark-La-Tex. Cass County is the middle of nowhere and the prettiest place in God’s Country (Texas!).
lord dog nuts only wants to spend more money in his district. He is as bad as Robert KKK Byrd. I wish he would lose his seat, but that will never happen with Austin being his stronghold. eff him.
I still maintain that Rep. Pete Olson shouldn't have equated education spending to education. I still think that was stupid.
“I think we’re going to have to disagree on this.”
Maybe not, Pete Olson worded what he said poorly, as its not about the gov per se, and its about who decides what we spend and where. so maybe you were right to critique it - he MEANT to speak up for Texas making its own decisions. ... Texas not DC has primary stake and responsibility in public education, as per our constitution,
and Doggett’s amendment trampled on Texas’ ability to make our own spending decisions on education.
Doggett needs to read the Texas Constitution. Especially the first sentence.
” I’m not one who equates education spending to education. I actually believe that there is little connection between the two.”
I agree.
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