Rep. Gene Green Calls on Gov. Perry to Protect Texas Education

Press Release

In another effort at spreading misinformation, Texas Governor Rick Perry has issued a statement that falsely states how federal funding will affect Texas. Governor Perry has charged the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation with playing politics and attaching language to legislation that will kill over $800 million in federal funding for Texas education. In fact, Governor Perry himself removed over $3 billion from the state budget last year when Texas received an additional $3.25 billion in stimulus funds. Instead of increasing Texas' education budget, as intended, teachers and schoolchildren across the state saw little additional funds.

"Last year, Governor Perry manipulated stimulus funds sent to Texas intended to substantially increase the education budget," said Rep. Gene Green. "If the Governor would stop playing the political game, we wouldn't have to step in to ensure school districts across the state receive the much needed funding our children deserve."

The State of Texas will now receive $830 million in new emergency federal funds to preserve teacher jobs and meet local education needs. The funds will be sent directly from the Department of Education through a Title I formula, preventing the state government from being able to interfere with the funding stream and direct the money to the state's rainy day fund, as the Governor did last year with stimulus funds.

"The language in this amendment simply requires that the money designated for Texas' students and schools actually reaches Texas' students and schools" continued Rep. Green. "If cuts to the state's budget are necessary, the provision requires that cuts to education not be a larger percentage than to other programs."

Support for the amendment has been received from local school districts across the state and major education organizations including Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, Texas Association of School Boards, Texas State Teachers Association, Association for Texas Professional Educators, Texas Association of School Administrators, and Texas Classroom Teachers Association.

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