Gov. Perry springs into action

Not wanting to seem like a bad leader (in an election year with a primary opponent), Gov. Perry sent a letter to Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley. Quorum Report has it, so now you do, too.

August 10, 2005

Dear Commissioner Neeley:

Getting new textbooks to classrooms as soon as possible is a very important priority of mine. I remain hopeful that the legislature will appropriate funding for Proclamation 2002 textbooks in the current special session. However, should textbook legislation not reach my desk, I am committed to seeking a budget execution order to fund textbooks at a total amount not to exceed $295 million. And, it is clear, based on the recent statements of the lieutenant governor and the speaker, that the leadership is in full support of funding Proclamation 2002 books.

I am therefore writing today to direct the Texas Education Agency to open the electronic materials ordering system (EMAT) and begin processing orders immediately so textbooks can be shipped from warehouses to classrooms as soon as possible.

With the new school year upon us, your attention to this matter is vital. Your quick action can ensure that the newest materials are in the hands of our schoolchildren as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Rick Perry
Governor

So the textbooks will get there, eventually, and all will be well. Speaker Craddick will be happy because the House killed school finance and schools will be happy because they eventually got their $295 million worth of textbooks. The rest of us are probably going to be miffed off that so much time and money was wasted on special sessions and legislation that was never going to pass and the fact that the funding system for Texas schools is still broken.