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June 28, 2005
Hochberg Shows His Quality, and Loses to Partisans
Today comes word that Texas House Democrats' plan to reform public school finance -- a plan authored by Houston State Representative Scott Hochberg -- fell just one vote short of passing.
The plan garnered every Democratic vote and the support of 12 brave Republicans. It was left to House Speaker Tom Craddick, that champion of public education, to cast the deciding vote to kill it.
The plan cut property taxes across the board, tripled the property tax homestead exemption, and gave teachers a meaningful pay raise. Hochberg said the plan would benefit the average homeowner in 144 of 150 State House districts, and raise funding for three-fourths of Texas school districts.
But the GOP would sooner shut the schools down this fall than see any "Democrat" plan become law. We especially enjoyed the quote from Pampa Representative Chisum -- whose sole effort to improve the everyday lives of Texas families this session has been to introduce a constitutional amendment making already illegal same-sex marriage more illegal -- now he's a legislator we can all be proud of.
House Democrats offer a real, substantive plan to fund public schools. The GOP -- Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker et al? They're looking for the next "wedge" issue to divide Texans and pick up a few votes. This is leadership, ladies and gentlemen, brought to you by the Texas Republican Party.
Posted by houtopia at June 28, 2005 11:24 PM