Republicans File Bill To Repeal Doggetts Anti-Texas Education Language

Hutchison & Cornyn bill to repeal Doggetts language filed yesterday Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C.  Texas Republican Congressional Members wrote … this amendment singles out only the State of Texas…no other state in the nation is subject to these additional requirements…the House language only punishes Texas students and teachers."  Today they introduced legislation to repeal Congressman Lloyd Doggetts (D-Austin) education funding language.   Led by Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Lewisville) and saying it could prevent Texas from receiving its fair share of the federal education funding the legislators introduced legislation calling to strike the paragraph which was written and inserted by Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin). The Doggett language 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 August 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 (see below)

… this amendment singles out only the State of Texas … no other state in the nation is subject to these additional requirements … the House language only punishes Texas students & 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 Burgess in introducing the legislation  (HR 6108)  are:

1. Congressman Joe Barton
2. Congressman Kevin Brady
3. Congressman John Carter
4. Congressman Michael Conaway
5. Congressman John Culberson
6. Congressman Louie Gohmert
7. Congresswoman Kay Granger
8. Congressman Ralph Hall
9. Congressman Jeb Hensarling
10. Congressman Michael McCaul
11. Congressman Randy Neugebauer
12. Congressman Pete Olson
13. Congressman Ron Paul
14. Congressman Ted Poe
15. Congressman Pete Sessions
16. Congressman Lamar Smith
17. Congressman Mac Thornberry

Senators Hutchison & Cornyn introduced the Senate version to repeal Doggetts language S. 3768 yesterday in the Senate.