Perry's Political Future May Depend on Passing Education, Tax Reform

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 06-01-05 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Perry political future may depend on passing education, tax reform ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN (AP) - Republican Gov. Rick Perry wanted badly to change the way Texas schools are funded and reduce homeowners' property taxes.

His political future may well depend on it.

Despite Perry's desire and coaxing, lawmakers left town without getting the job done. Their 140-day regular session ended Monday with no plan in place, despite some promising last-minute negotiations. Perry called it a "disappointment."

He reiterated Tuesday that if House and Senate leaders continue working toward an agreement, he may call a special session. He said he'll keep trying to broker a deal.

"I don't believe that we're finished here," he said. "I don't believe the final chapter of this book has been written yet."

The Texas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for July 6 in a school finance lawsuit appeal, and Perry's aides have made it no secret they'd like to reach a solution with legislators before then.

A state district judge last year ruled Texas' school funding system unconstitutional and gave the state until October 2005 to make changes or stop funding public education.

While Perry listed several accomplishments he said lawmakers delivered on - including Child Protective Services reform, a workers' compensation overhaul and a parental consent bill for minors seeking abortions - he said he wasn't hiding his disappointment over the failure of school funding and property tax relief.

The stakes are high for Perry to preside over a school finance solution. He could face criticism on the issue if he draws a Republican primary opponent in 2006. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn might enter the GOP race.

Perry said lawmakers may feel some heat from voters this summer, although he seemed to inadvertently refer to his own dilemma.

"If there's a will, we can find a way," Perry said. "If they don't want to work to finish the job, well then, I think I may make, or I should say, they should make plans for a long and uncomfortable summer when they go home, when they meet with those constituents and they explain that they didn't act on education reform, property tax relief."

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a Republican who presides over the Senate, said work needs to continue and that House and Senate negotiators should meet again in the next week or two once they are more rested.

"We're real close, and we can do it," Dewhurst said.

Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick also said lawmakers should keep trying. They were close to a deal on the education side of the package, but on the finance side "we're not even in the same hemisphere," he said.

Perry suffered a few other setbacks this session.

He won only a watered-down version of the local tax revenue caps he proposed.

A private school voucher program - something Perry has long favored - died in the House after moderate Republicans sought to sabotage it.

Perry enjoyed some successes. Legislators allocated money for his Texas Enterprise Fund, used to seal deals with companies bringing jobs to Texas, and his proposed Emerging Technology Fund, intended to nurture research and job creation in high-tech industries.

The Legislature gave him $280 million for both funds combined, and he'll likely get another $100 million expected to be available from the state's rainy day account. It was short of what Perry asked for, but he said he was pleased.

Democrats, however, have criticized the allocations. House Democratic leader Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco called it the "governor's slush fund" during House budget debate.

On the state budget, Perry and his veto pen will have the last word.

Lawmakers approved a $139 billion spending plan for the coming two years. Some conservative groups have labeled that too high, though Republicans in the House and Senate presided over the budget-writing process.

Dewhurst and Craddick defended the budget Tuesday as justified, saying it covers growth in mandated Medicaid costs and school enrollment growth, which the state has no control over.

Perry declined to say if he'll slash parts of the budget using his line-item veto power.

"It's 800 pages, and we're just starting to get into it," he said. He expects to soon dig into it with "the appropriate fine-tooth comb and sharp pencil."

[Theodore R.]

Perry also has an appointment to make to the TX Supreme Court (good through 2006) for the seat being vacated by Priscilla Owen.

[basil]

It seems to me that "special sessions" are becoming the norm rather than a rare event. Does anyone have any idea what these "special sessions" cost the taxpayers? Where does that money come from?

[Theodore R.]

Here's from a 2003 post on the Internet about TX legislative special sessions:

While costing taxpayers an estimated $57,000 per day, the repeated special sessions this year have meant big business for a handful of politicians, insider attorneys and legal experts, according to legislative leaders and public interest groups.

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick raised more than $1.8 million in campaign contributions during the first special legislative session alone.

The money for the special sessions would come from general revenues: there are few items earmarked in TX.