Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
Floor Speech
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Mr. DOGGETT. When Texas received $3.25 billion in 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 is today Federal law.
Tonight's proposal seeks to nullify that protection so that Governor Perry can reach out for another Federal bailout even if it means taking $830 million away from Texas schoolchildren. 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.
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Mr. DOGGETT. I thank the gentleman.
I enter in the record the request of education organizations from all over the State of Texas for this amendment and the statements of the Texas delegation last year and again this year.
Governor Perry may have come up here on a 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 schoolchildren.
There is a clear path to getting this money. All the Governor needs to do is to sign a three-page application, like the one he signed to get that $3.25 billion of aid he used 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's not shut the door of opportunity to our children. Reject this amendment.
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