Perry rips absent Demos Executive order clears $700 million for schools Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — Republican Gov. Rick Perry, again chastising Senate Democrats for fleeing to New Mexico amid a congressional redistricting battle, on Wednesday ordered that $700 million be paid to Texas schools this month. Perry issued an executive order preventing Foundation School Pro gram payments from being delayed until September, thus eliminating uncertainty for districts, he said. "It's a big chunk of change," Perry said. Lawmakers were to have addressed the payments — clarifying a discrepancy between two bills passed this spring — but 11 Democratic senators...