Perry says comptroller intent on 'blowing up' session (vouchers in Texas)

[CShine]

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry fired back at Republican rival Carole Keeton Strayhorn today, insisting the comptroller's criticism of his school finance plan is flat wrong and that she's intent on "blowing up" the special legislative session. Perry also indicated he would like to see a school voucher plan emerge from the special session.

"I'd like to have seen it four sessions ago," Perry said. "I don't have a problem with that, never have."

Lawmakers have not explicitly said a voucher bill is in the works, but voucher opponents -- who contend vouchers would take money away from public schools and divert it to private schools -- have warned such legislation could be in the offing. Perry previously has said he favors a voucher pilot program. Today he called it a "public school choice" pilot program, but didn't elaborate on how it would work.

The governor called the 30-day special legislative session to reduce property taxes and eliminate the existing share-the-wealth education funding system, known to some as Robin Hood. Perry says the plan he put forth would pump $2.5 billion into public schools while cutting school property taxes by $6 billion.


http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2521607

[MSgt213]

1. Perry is full of crap. The reason why he won't say how it works is

simply because his friends are going to make damn sure they get rich of this.

[Sagan]

2. This is typical Texas Repug bullcrap..

Strayhorn put out a report with FACTS and FIGURES. Perry comes out and says "Nope, that's wrong." while never providing any facts and figures of his own. EVER.

What did Texas do to deserve having these idiots inflicted upon us?

[hatrack]

4. Texas kept electing Republicans, that's what it did

Not that you did, Sagan, and I know that there are plenty of dyed-in-the-wool Democrats and plenty of intelligent Texans of all political stripe down in the Lone Star State who can't stand Bush or Goodhair. I wish you all the best with Bugman's apparently pending indictment, and especially with the upcoming Congressional races.

But, as long as the legions of knuckledraggers keep salivating when the GOP rings the God/Guns/Gays bell, you're going to keep getting these buffoons "representing" you.

Not that Missouri is exactly an oasis of liberal democracy - Bond and Talent as US Senators - YECCH!!!

[Ilsa]

3. Shit. Our schools are struggling as it is, and

he wants to give away money to private schools as vouchers?

We need to get rid of this stupid oaf.

[0007]

5. Oh Hum, Captain Goodhair better cool it!!

Molly will knock this creep down to peanut size.

Tom DeLay - Dick Armey - Tom Craddick - Phil & Windy Gramm - Senator John Cornyn and many more I can't think of right now that piss me off royally.

Where does Texas find these clowns?

[0007]

6. Don't forget that Bob Woodward will be on Hardball 7:00 est