Most districts will probably set their budgets in August, but will begin finalizing expenses as soon as they know the exact details of the Legislature’s new school finance plan
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Update 2:20pm, Texas Tribune – The Center for Reproductive Rights, a national abortion-rights advocacy group, has filed suit over Texas' newly-signed abortion sonogram law, alleging it violates the First Amendment rights of the doctor and the patient . . . The Center also charges that the law discriminates against women by "subjecting them to paternalistic 'protections' not imposed on men." The challenge was filed in U.S. District Court in Austin.
TDP's response: “ . . . This legislation being debated today is yet another attempt by Republicans to pander to the Tea Party by attacking Hispanics. Cowardly Republican politicians like Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and the legislative majority have shown they are willing to trample the rights of Hispanic Texans in order to score points with their Tea Party base . . . "
___________________From the Texas Democratic Party – Remarks delivered in front of the Capitol by Rebecca Forest, founder of the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas and a prominent Tea Party leader:
TDP's response: “ . . . This legislation being debated today is yet another attempt by Republicans to pander to the Tea Party by attacking Hispanics. Cowardly Republican politicians like Rick Perry, David Dewhurst and the legislative majority have shown they are willing to trample the rights of Hispanic Texans in order to score points with their Tea Party base . . . "
From Politico.com – "The pro-business conservative group Americans for Job Security has bought up online ads in New Hampshire, touting Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s work enacting “loser pays” tort reform laws."
Update, 3:30pm – Senate has recessed until Tuesday 3pm. State funding, school finance and health care bills have been assigned to conference committees. Senators are expected to debate SB9 on Wednesday
Now – Livestreaming, Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee reconvening public hearing, sanctuary city legislation SB9 . . . requires RealPlayer
Facing cuts, will schools raise local taxes?
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, is the latest lawmaker to say it: A $4 billion shortfall in state financing does not have to mean teachers lose their jobs.
Across the state, school districts are considering the last option (a "tax ratification election"). But will the same public that sent lawmakers to Austin in November with an overwhelming no-new-taxes imperative accept paying more locally to preserve programs and jobs?
. . . “It’s not a matter of if we are going to have a TRE — it’s a matter of when,” said Joe Smith, a former superintendent who runs texasisd.com, a clearinghouse of news and information for school officials.
* Stop Formula 1 state subsidies, and Central Texas water grab SB 341
Contact Linda Curtis at ljcurtis@indytexans.org to join the conference call
In the midst of budget cuts on ordinary citizens, the state legislature has not yet seen fit to cut the billionaires at Formula 1 racing, who do not need a subsidy. (Comptroller Susan Combs continues to push this $290M ($25M per year for 10 years) tax dollar giveaway. It must be matched by either the City of Austin or the County of Travis by $4M per year.
You can watch this video of Susan Moffat's testimony to the Austin City Council on Thursday (who's husband co-owns South by Southwest Music and Film Festivals, that's brought hundreds of million of dollars to Austin without a handout) or read the article by Pulitzer Prizing winning journalist, David Cay Johntson, to see what a turkey this deal is.
7 comments:
Maybe we need to have the property tax assessment raised yet again to pay for public schools so the local voters can feel the real effect of putting these right wing Republican public school haters in the state legislature.
In a previous post I stated that the ultimate goal of the nationwide Republican governors is to "starve the beast" of public school funding so they can find an excuse to privatize the system.
Well, Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has let the cat out of the bag being the first one to actually propose the idea. At least he has the testicles to be honest about the big public education funding lie.
But don't worry all you trusting (gullible?) middle class neoconservatives. When your favorite neoRepublican politicians are done with their public school privatization agenda, there will still be a lot of jobs for your grown up children as maids, yard workers, grocery store clerks, fast food assistant managers, and car washers for the elite class.
Rocky, you forgot about university funding.
The neocon children will also be able to get college degrees in Exxon, WalMart, Google and Home Depot, with minors in Whole Foods, Hormel, Aqua America and Sysco.
Rocky said... "When your favorite neoRepublican politicians are done with their public school privatization agenda, there will still be a lot of jobs for your grown up children as maids, yard workers, grocery store clerks, fast food assistant managers, and car washers for the elite class."
What an absurd elitist statement! I'm sure you meant it as "absurdity to make a point" but you inadvertently exposed your prejudice against people that work for a living. Besides those jobs have already taken over by the illegal immigrants which you support.
I thought you said your wife runs a private school. How do you square that with your rants about the public schools being threatened? Can it be that private school is only for the elite that can afford it and the rest of us need to be forced to be encumbered by high taxes and stay where we are? Why can't all children go to private schools? Vouchers anyone?
Nothing in SB 9 increases penalties against, much less speaks to, businesses or individuals hiring undocumented workers. In other words, it gives business owners a free pass. GOP and Perry are so business friendly they leave the business community completely hold harmless when in fact it is the business community's hiring of illegals that is the very reason we have so many in our state and country. The bill's sole purpose is to target Hispanics and immigrants. What a boat load of crap. Employers should be the first to get busted! for breaking laws already in effect.
Anonymous of June 13 11:56 AM thinks he or she is clever by twisting comments I make to make it appear I am a hypocrite. Sorry, Shadowman, but it won't fly.
First, if I am an elitist and have a hidden 'elitist" financial agenda because my wife runs a private school, why would I strongly defend public education budgets?
In fact, if public schools were privatized or turned into voucher programs, my family income would benefit directly. So if I am elitist, explain why I defend public school budgets - LOGICALLY and with facts.
And if you believe my example was "absurdity to make a point," why do you still insist I am an elitist?
You, Sir, by your attack on my conviction and my sincerity, are ultimately elitist by default for defending these public school haters who want to turn public education into a for profit entity that will most likely exclude your children or grandchildren from getting the best education they can.
You can believe that or not, at your own peril.
You also say:
"Besides those jobs have already taken over by the illegal immigrants which you support."
Gee, that sure sounds "racist" to me. I thought you said those jobs were for hard working Americans?
See, I know you do not mean that sentence in a racist way. But that is how it can be interpreted.
Finally, you say:
"Can it be that private school is only for the elite that can afford it and the rest of us need to be forced to be encumbered by high taxes and stay where we are?"
Let me answer your "assumption" poised as a question.
The parents who come to my wife's private school pay BOTH property taxes and tuition. And most are simply middle class families who are willing to budget for their children's education. Private school is not elitist. It is parents sacrificing something else for their children's education.
We also see some upper middle class professional parents take their children out of private school and start them in public school at the 1st grade level.
My wife and I strongly believe that because not all parents can budget for private school tuition, it is mandatory that American children have excellent public schools to make sure our children are career competitive and have the emotional and intellectual competencies to be successful independent Americans.
If that is "elitist", well, maybe I am.
Where did all these white racist neo-con tea party republicans in Texas come from all of a sudden?? They need to be deported forthwith to their country of origin quick...that would be nazi germany. Y'all need to chill, baby.
Chris Christie is talking big because he plans to run for President in 2012. Undoubtedly, he will run his own self out of the race and into the ground.
Each Texas Special Legislative Session costs the taxpayers at least $2 MILLION.
I recall several years ago, Governor Rick Perry called for 3 Special Sessions right in a row, mostly to push the redistricting plan that was finally pushed through by non other than the now infamous Tom DeLay, who came direct from Washington D.C. to stick his prominent federal nose into a state issue.
The 3 Special Sessions, totaling $6 MILLION supposedly were held to find resolutions for public education. Of course, no resolution was found and we now are paying for a Special Session to do [in part] the same thing.
Republicans are in power here in Texas and all they can do is waste tax dollars on special interests that do little for the Texas community.
Still, the governor and his merry band of legislative and appointed henchment continue year after year and Texans just don't get any smarter.
I hope Perry's big ego enables him to run for President so we Texans finally get rid of him as Governor.
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