The U.S. Department of Education has approved Texas’ application for using $3.2 billion in federal stimulus money, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said.
That money will be used to pay for textbooks and a $1.9 billion increase in school funding, which covers an $800 raise for all Texas teachers.
There had been concerns that the Texas application might not win federal approval.
Congressional Democrats had complained loudly that Texas misused its stimulus money by filling the state’s budget holes with the federal dollars while leaving untouched the $9.1 billion rainy day fund.
“While I am pleased that our hardworking Texas teachers are each assured a well-deserved raise, we could and should have done much better by our local public schools,” Doggett said.
Approval was expected but it’s always good to see the I’s get dotted and the T’s get crossed. And just remember, whenever you hear Rick Perry talk about giving public school teachers a raise this year – and you can bet that he will – it was that bad ol’ federal government he hates so much that made it all possible. In particular, it was President Obama and all the Democrats in Congress. Both of our Senators voted against the stimulus package, so KBH has as much claim to this as Perry does, which is to say none at all. Texas on the Potomac has more.