Texas Democrats Urge Governor to Sign a Legitimate Application (TX)

September 28, 2010

Texas Congressional Democrats today urged Governor Rick Perry to stop wasting Texas resources on frivolous lawsuits and stand up for Texas children by submitting an approvable application for the $10 billion Education Jobs Fund. On September 3, 2010, Governor Perry submitted an altered application to the Department of Education that refuses to assure schools that he will not punish them in future years for accepting federal aid.

"Rick Perry wants to cheat our kids and schools by submitting altered applications that skirt the rules and any accountability measures," said Congressman Silvestre Reyes. "All Governor Perry is required to do is sign a three page application on the Department of Education website and $830 million will flow to our schools within days. Instead he continues to play politics. He’s done this before. First he did it at the expense of unemployed workers, then at the expense of uninsured Texas families, and now he is doing it at the expense of our children. For someone who campaigns against frivolous lawsuits, he should set a better example."

The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act of 2010 si gned into law on August 10, 2010, is estimated to send Texas schools around $830 million dollars. The bill also includes language authored by the Texas Democratic delegation that protects funds from being siphoned off and used for other purposes by state politicians. The language requires that Texas do two things: 1) Distribute the funds using the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s Title I, Part A funding formula; and, 2) Provide assurances that Texas will not disproportionately single out education for budget cuts in years 2011, 2012, and 2013. This language is key to ensuring funds for Texas are not diverted for other purposes, like propping up the rainy day fund. It also ensures that schools are not punished through cuts in the state education budget in subsequent years for accepting federal aid.
The Texas protection language was requested by over 40 superintendents and seven major education organizations across the State including the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, Texas Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, Texas Association of School Boards, Texas State Teachers Association, Association for Texas Professional Educators, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, and Texas Association of School Administrators.
"There is no problem with Texas schools receiving the federal funding they could definitely put to good use, that is if Governor Perry would just simply do the right and sensible thing," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa. "By denying our school districts the federal monies they need, Governor Perry continues to cause problems for the entire State of Texas and for all of the children and teachers in our public schools."
"Texas students should be our first and foremost priority. Education is the key to building a prosperous economy and productive workforce," said Congressman Solomon Ortiz. "This is why we as Congres sional Democratic Representatives are fighting to make sure Gov. Perry does not divert money that is intended to save teachers jobs and play politics with our children’s vital education funding."
"Governor Perry needs to stop playing politics and submit a correct application to receive close to a billion dollars for the children of our State. He can put an end to this partisan nonsense by simply printing the application from the Department of Education’s website and signing his name," said Congressman Gene Green.
"The clock is ticking and every minute counts. Every day that goes by, the children of Texas are losing out on getting vital federal funds for education, which ensure our schools can provide the skills every child needs for a successful future," said Congressman Cuellar.
"It is unfortunate that Governor Perry continues to delay efforts to get much needed funding to our schools and teachers," said Congresswoman Johnson. "At a time when many schools are being forced to lay off teachers, it is unconscionable that Governor Perry would use this opportunity for political grandstanding. If he were to sign the application the Department of Education has prepared for Texas, schools could receive funding within days."
"All that is being asked of the governor is that he give his word that he will use the money for Texas school kids and won’t divert it, as he did in the past. Filing a legal action sounds like lawsuit abuse to me but nothing coming from the governor’s office surprises me anymore," said Congressman Charles Gonzalez.
"This is another act of political theatre, reflected in a press release longer than the accompanying legal petition," said Congressman Lloyd Doggett. "Only Governor Perry’s purposeful alteration of the application is tempor arily delaying these funds. Yesterday the Secretary of Education indicated that these funds were being held for Texas, since the Governor has already told the Department that eventually ‘the State envisions submitting an application at a later date that does not contain the conditional assurances.’ He knows what needs to be done to secure this aid; just sign the application form as he did on July 1, 2009. This struggle is about seeing that the State does not deny aid to education to local schools solely because they have received additional federal aid. The bottom line is this: Federal aid to education should actually aid education in our local Texas schools. It is almost as if the Governor felt he was entitled to his own blank check federal bailout and now he has the lawsuit to prove it."
"Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education sent to the State of Texas must be used for the education and the education only of the children of Texas. Whatever the obstacles are that we have to overcome to provide the best education for the children of Texas, we will fight against those obstacles and overcome them in the best interests of Texas’ school children. Furthermore, I pledge to support the parents, teachers, and children who themselves desire the best education for the children of Texas. No state elected official can use partisan politics to deter the good work of the Texas Congressional delegation in ensuring federal education dollars are for educating our children," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
"Texas children need the $830 million. The governor needs to sign the application. The eyes of Texas are upon us," said Congressman Al Green.