Washington D.C.— Today, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives during debate of the Continuing Resolution in opposition to the “Perry Bailout Amendment” (Burgess #154). In 2009, Republican State Leadership denied Texas schools more than $3 billion in federal aid so these federal dollars made not a dime of difference to our Texas schools, but it provided a big federal bailout for Governor Rick Perry. To prevent such budgeting games from reoccurring, the “Save Our Schools” provision was added to the EduJobs bill (H.R. 1586) in August 2010 to ensure that $830 million in new federal funds for Texas schools would actually benefit our Texas schools. All 12 members of the Texas Democratic Delegation – from Chet Edwards to Silvestre Reyes, from Henry Cuellar to Eddie Bernice Johnson – joined in offering the “Save Our Schools” provision, which is now federal law (July 2010 statement of entire Texas Democratic congressional delegation attached).
Though he has called for repeal of last year’s Texas Democratic “Save Our Schools” provision, the Burgess “Perry Bailout Amendment” by its very words repeals nothing. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said today:
“This is the same Governor, who came here on a tour for his book called ‘Fed Up.’ Well, I’m fed up with federal education dollars for our school children being diverted and adding nothing more to help our schools. He may write about being fed up, but he doesn’t hesitate to come back for second and third helpings of federal monies.
“There is a clear path for Texas schools to get all of the money that Texas Democratic Congressmembers voted to provide them. The Governor simply signs a three-page application for the $830 million. He has failed to offer any valid policy reason for failing to do so.
“This amendment does not repeal our Texas Democrats ‘Save Our Schools’ provision. The amendment is probably meaningless, but might be misconstrued by some judges to prevent Texas from receiving any funds at all.”
The speech as delivered is attached below, or you can view the speech by clicking here.
“When Texas received $3.25 billion of education stimulus funds over the objection of every Texas republican, Governor Perry played a shell game that left Texas schools not a dime better off than if no federal aid had come in the first place.
”That is the only reason that last summer, all 12 democratic Texas members— from Chet Edwards to Silvestre Reyes, from Henry Cuellar to Gene Green—united, joined together in offering our ‘Save Our Schools’ amendment which today is federal law.
”Tonight’s proposal, seeks to nullify it so Governor Perry can reach for another federal bailout, even if it means taking $830 million away from Texas school children.
”Defectively written, this amendment fails to repeal anything. The enforcement funds that it would limit are not in this bill. They are already appropriated. Vote no on a very flawed amendment for a failed purpose. Stop begging Washington for help, Governor. Just sign the application.”
“I enter into the record the record of organizations all over the state of Texas and the statements of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation last year and this year.
”Governor Perry may have come up here on the book tour for his book ‘Fed Up’ but he’s not afraid to ask for second and third helpings of federal aid even though it takes it away from our school children.
”There is a clear path to get this money. All the governor needs to do is sign a three-page application, like the one he signed to get the 3.25 billion of aid he kept for purposes other than education.
”Though this is presented as an attempt to repeal our amendment, it does not repeal it. It is a meaningless gesture though it does cloud up the possibility that some federal court may suggest that Texas is not entitled to any money. Let us not shut the door to opportunity. Reject this amendment.”
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Impeach his ass
Doggett, I assume…
No, idiot, Perry.
Impeach Perry.
I thought that attacks of personal insults will no longer be tolerated on this blog. Anonymous that is the true resaon for calling for your identity. Anyway the main players are the Republicans on this problem. It was George Bush who left us with all the huge bills and deficits. Now they are asking the American public to put them back in power as if they are without sin and now placing the blame on Obama. The consensus is that the Republicans think that the American public would soon forget that they were responsible for everything that is ailing the economy and and now have us believe that the dems created the huge deficits that were the sins of the father and the son. Those are what I call the Fred Rendons of the world. They put out letters to the editor blasting the dems while enjoying all the social programs without seeing and knowing who to thank for . It is a good thing that there is a god for these kind of people.
Well, JJ, I recall that when we were fighting for SMD you were firmly on the otherside. You even went so far as to call a certain well known old guarder a saint.
Social programs? Well that includes the V.A. and everything else Boswell and all you have supported. Enrich the farmer, screw the farm worker. Corporate PAC good, union bad.
Did you see the lastest from their PAC? They want to elect those who have “met a payroll” to commission. Hey would not be Boswell or Ulhorn or the little sissies, but we won’t go there.
http://farm.ewg.org/top_recips.php?fips=48061&progcode=cotton®ionname=CameronCounty,Texas
I have not seen any position papers from ‘their’ PAC. Do ‘they’ have a website?
Dude, you really need to lighten up. High blood pressure is a killer.
Anonymous, I am not sure who you are referring to when you say that we were fighting for smds. The fact that you don’t mention your name on this blog leaves plenty to the imagination. I for one can tell you that you said we because apparrently you do remember seeing me at the smd meetings along with Humberto Zamora and others. Yes I was at the meetings because I myself wanted to see Smd materialize for all the goodd reasons without ever thinking that one of the SMD organizers would be the one to do me wrong instead of the old guard who would have plenty of more reasons to put a hurt on me for not being their compadre. As for you telling me that I was firmly on the other side is like me telling the people of this blog that it is you who works with the old guard all the time because you who proclaims to be with the common folks can’t be due to not wanting us to know your real name. As for me calling a Harlingen mainstay a saint it is because the man gives of himself to others without gaining any benefit from his own charitable donations to the community. An honest statement of a man who is known to have done all this good deeds for his community is what now makes me being on the other side is a funny and ludicrous statement comming from someone we don’t even know.