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I have to ask ... did people here read the article linked to in the OP? It includes the following:
Led by Doggett, Democrats in Congress said they put forth the provision because of the way the state handled federal stimulus dollars last year.
Doggett says state lawmakers used $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money last year to replace state money and ended the legislative session with billions in the state's Rainy Day Fund.
That was an abuse of the intent of the federal stimulus act, Doggett said. He said his provision was intended to ensure state officials don't divert education dollars to other parts of the budget if they get more federal aid.
Looks like Texas DID take federal money, and did whatever the hell they wanted to with it. So now the feds are saying, you want more money, it's on our terms, not yours.
That Texas may lose $800 million after taking $3.2 billion shouldn't make anyone lose any sleep.
And the title of the thread id "Dem congress really doesn't like Texas"
It should be "Texas doesn't like Dem congress, but like their money, but don't want to be told how to spend it"
Looks like Texas DID take federal money, and did whatever the hell they wanted to with it. So now the feds are saying, you want more money, it's on our terms, not yours.
That Texas may lose $800 million after taking $3.2 billion shouldn't make anyone lose any sleep.
Do you recall there were 2 parts to that stimulus...one without any strings/mandates and 1 with.
Texas took the part with no strings and put it away (we didn't need it all) and said NO to the part that had Fed mandate.
And BTW..the states that took the second part, the one that enabled part time workers to get unemployment funded by the Fed for two years had to change their state laws to make that permanent and after the 2 years (2011) have to fund it themselves. Texas said NO to that part.
Doggett is upset because the Fed money wasn't used to INCREASE educational spending.
Other states took that money and "created" new jobs. Now they need more money to contain those new jobs they couldn't afford to begin with.
Education in Texas got parts of the stimulus money. Doggett would like people to think none of it went to education.
Don't forget..there is an election in Texas for a new governor. Will it be Dem or will it be Repub ?
"The U.S. Senate gave initial approval
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.
.. The Texas Constitution prohibits the
governor from committing to future legislative spending. Perry
spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said previously that ties his hands."
So Texas will lose up to $800 million. And..the one who put this amendment in is Texas Dem. Lloyd Doggett.
Talk about cut your nose to spite your face. All because Texas refused to take Fed education money which mandated the state make changes based on Fed mandates. Doggett gets even eh ? The stimulus money we did get we didn't 100% spend because we didn't need to.
Think about it..Texas is not asking for any teacher bailouts. The stimulus money must have been used properly compared to the likes of California and other states that are asking for more money.
What the heck is wrong with our country where states that didn't throw that money away are now being punished because they saved it for when it's really needed as opposed to spending it all and coming back with their hands out ?
Fair to say that Texans as a whole are probably not to crazy about Congress. According to latest polls neither is the rest of the country.
Drug dealers hate it when they are told "NO". The beltway political retaliation should be interesting to watch. Good for Texas! I hope other states kick the DC crack habit and do the similarly. The federal government needs to be reminded that it needs the states more than the states need it.
I guess that means that Texas can stop sending tax money to DC?
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"No Distribution Shall be made to the State of Texas"
