Governor to call lawmakers back on April 17

[sonias]

www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_School_Finance.html|AAS article 3/16]
Governor to call lawmakers back on April 17
AUSTIN — Republican Gov. Rick Perry will call the Legislature into special session April 17 to deal with a court mandate to find a new funding formula for public schools by summer, a state government source told The Associated Press Thursday.

The source spoke on condition of anonymity because Perry is expected to make the special session announcement Friday.

Who thinks anything is going to get solved? The republican controlled Texas Legislature is a miserable failure - big time!

Sonia

[muse]

1. You are asking me?

No, nothing will get solved.

NO.

He's failed miserably in the past. The whole lot of them have failed. I'll be watching this very closely.

They don't have any idea how they can make this work. They'll end up throwing it back to the courts.

[johncoby2]

2. I dont know how to call this.

It was very clear during the primaries that those who opposed public education went down. Vouchers should be out. Should be out.

Those who will push vouchers should be very concerned at the next election. They may also lose their jobs for it.

Yet those who have already lost their jobs, Grusendorf head of the education committee, Joe Nixon mr anti teacher, and a few others might just push for it because they have nothing to lose.

On the other hand, "reforming" education (ie privatizing education) might be off the table. Because they know they can get hammered on this. They will hope they can avoid a loss in November then come back and privatize education in 2007.

My too sense

[sonias]

3. Nothing has changed in the Lege for the special session

Essentially the make up of the Legislature is pretty much going to be the same. The Donna Howard win in the special election gets canceled with the Kirk England win seat that Katy Hubener did not pick up.

If our Democrats can hold together, the only thing that can get accomplished is to continue to show that the republicans don't know how to govern. Perry hasn't even set his goal on solving the school finance problem. All he wants to do is get out of the legal challenge of a state wide property tax.

Sonia

[NoPasaran]

4. Howard's win not cancelled out

The seat Hubener was running for was a Repub seat. No change there. But Howard flipped her district from red to blue. So we have a net gain of one seat. But I agree, it's not enough to make a differenece. I think we're all screwed until there are enough Democrats and non-insane Repubs to overthrow Craddick.

[muse]

7. This is exactly what I think. Nothing has changed.

Nothing will get accomplished.
So, what happens? Seriously. Will judge have to intervene in Texas schools as threatened (promised)?

[WestHoustonDem]

5. Scott Hochberg gave a very informative talk about the

school finance issues at last week's HCDP brownbag. His plan passed the house during the last regular session, maybe he can pull off some more magic this session.

[sonias]

6. I agree that the Hochberg bill was a winner

It did pass the House with moderate republicans like Carter Casteel voting for the measure, and then Craddick of course killed it. What will the James Leininger impact be? He essentially bought or won 3 seats he targeted. The losers have to come back for this special session, how will they vote? Carter has nothing to lose anymore. She may continue to vote sanely. Grusendorf well he's just an a-hole so it depends on how likely he is to try to get a lobbyist job. He will have to appease the moneymakers.

Should be interesting. I do hope that Hochberg files that bill once again, and let's see what come of it.

Sonia