Target Dems Block Texas Education Funding, Hands Money to Other States

FYI, a version of the release below went out to the following districts: Chet Edwards (TX-17); Lloyd Doggett (TX-25) and Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23).

Washington– Ever eager to sign off on another wasteful spending bill, Chet Edwards backed his Texas constituents into a corner today when he approved $26 billion in spending demanded by his Democrat leaders. That’s because a constitutionally questionable provision that would block $800 million in funding for Texas schools was added to the bill with no objection from Edwards. As written, Texas is hamstrung from accepting the money that would be allotted to the state under the bill – meaning that Edwards just green-lighted education funding for the rest of the country while effectively cutting $800 million in funding for Texas.

“Chet Edwards is so dedicated to the Democrats’ reckless spending agenda that he’s willing to put the interests of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ahead of millions of dollars in education funds for Texans,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “As long as Democrats are spending taxpayer money, Edwards doesn’t seem to care how much is spent or where it goes. By green-lighting billions of dollars in federal spending while putting Texas schools in a tight spot, Edwards made it clear that his loyalties lie with Washington Democrats and not the Texans he’s supposed to represent.”

Thanks to a last-minute provision inserted into the bill, it looks like Texas won’t be able to accept its share of funds for teachers and public servants:

“The U.S. Senate gave initial approval on Wednesday to a bill that would require Texas to maintain state education spending levels through 2013, a state-specific mandate Republican Gov. Rick Perry has called unconstitutional.

“A Texas Education Agency spokeswoman and an aide to Sen. John Cornyn said the provision likely would mean Texas would lose more than $800 million in federal money for its schools.

“‘It’s going to be nearly insurmountable for Texas to get any funds out of this,’ said Kevin McLaughlin, spokesman for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. ‘It’s completely and totally impossible for the state of Texas to comply with the law as it is written.’”

“No changes are expected in the House…” (April Castro, “Bill Raises Fears Schools Will Lose $800 Million,” Associated Press, 8/4/10)

Big-spending Democrat Chet Edwards couldn’t even manage to stand up for Texans when he approved his party’s latest federal spending bill. With a record like that, it’s no wonder that Edwards could be looking for a new line of work after Election Day.