The Ellis County Press: Texas Republicans Introduce Bill To Repeal Education Language That Discriminates Against Lone Star State

Texas Republicans Introduce Bill To Repeal Education Language That Discriminates
Against Lone Star State
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Sean Brown on 09/14/2010 14:38:00


WASHINGTON: Members of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation, including
Congressmen Joe Barton (R-Ennis/Arlington) and Michael C. Burgess
(R-Lewisville), introduced legislation Tuesday to repeal language in last
month’s education funding bill that discriminates against only the state of
Texas, and could prevent Texas from receiving its fair share of the federal
education funding.
The legislation calls to strike the paragraph, which was written and inserted by
Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), that calls for Texas to make
additional requirements beyond what all other states are required to make in
order to qualify for the funding.  These additional requirements are not only
inequitable, but according to Texas officials, would require the state to make
assurances that violate the Texas Constitution.  Further, requiring only Texas
to meet additional requirements under the section titled “Additional
Requirements For The State Of Texas” that no other states are required to make
puts Texas schoolchildren at an unfair advantage.
On Aug. 6, 2010, all 22 Republican members of the Texas Congressional
delegation, including Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, wrote to House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to strike the Doggett language. The lawmakers
wrote, “…this amendment singles out only the State of Texas…and no other
state in the nation is subject to these additional requirements…the House
language only punishes Texas students and teachers.”   Unfortunately the
language was not stripped, and consequently, on September 9, 2010, Texas’
application for the $830 million in education funding was denied by the U.S.
Department of Education.
Texas Republicans joining Barton and Burgess in introducing the legislation are:
Congressman Kevin Brady
Congressman John Carter
Congressman Michael Conaway
Congressman John Culberson
Congressman Louie Gohmert
Congresswoman Kay Granger
Congressman Ralph Hall
Congressman Jeb Hensarling
Congressman Michael McCaul
Congressman Randy Neugebauer
Congressman Pete Olson
Congressman Ron Paul
Congressman Ted Poe
Congressman Pete Sessions
Congressman Lamar Smith
Congressman Mac Thornberry
Senators Hutchison and Cornyn introduced the Senate version to repeal
Doggett’s language, S. 3768, Monday in the Senate.