Texas Delegation Threatens War-Bill Revolt Over Stimulus Funds
Texas Democrats threatened to withhold their votes for a $105.9 billion war-funding measure Tuesday, as the legislation sped toward consideration on the House floor and party leaders worked to quash the insurrection.
“The great majority of the Texas delegation are against the supplemental until we get some relief,” Rep. Ruben Hinojosa said.
The revolt centers on a dispute over how funds from the economic stimulus law (PL 111-5) are spent on public schools in the state. And it comes at a time when the Texans’ votes could be critical for adopting the conference report on the supplemental spending bill (HR 2346 — H Rept 111-151).
The Texans say they are upset that the state legislature and governor diverted money intended for schools —particularly schools that serve low-income students — to the state’s “rainy day” fund.
In separate letters, they have asked Republican Gov. Rick Perry and federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan to intervene.
[]
Several Texans congregated in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s office Tuesday. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders continued to work on rounding up the votes of liberals who balked at the bill on its first pass through the House in May.
Democratic sources said Duncan, President Obama and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel were among the administration officials calling lawmakers to try to cobble together a majority coalition to send the conference report to the president’s desk.
We reported that there was a "Texas problem" here last week. Hadn’t heard more about it since.





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What makes this thing so damned important to Obama? He risks a lot political capital by personally whipping votes. If it still goes down, he loses some face. Maybe they should have thought about this before junking it up with unrelated items. Which, by the way, I’m pretty sure Obama publicly said he didn’t want to see in any bill.
jesus Jane, you sure pick up a lot with such delicate little ears to the ground – Rahm’s are much larger, and apparently can’t hear sh*
$100 Billion is Change you can believe in.
Presiden Obama will be as good as we make him, no better.
Which is still a damn sight better than any alternitives I have seen for quite some time.
Rahm troubles me.
the “unrelated items” IMF blank check is in the bill because POTUS wanted it in the bill – CW says he offered it @ G20 without “selling it” at home
hey Jane,
per your CQ link:
whip count shows her as a YES
1 ringy dingy . . .
looks like here we go …
it appears that we are under way….
and your beverage of choice would be….(?)
Ah, so that’s why this is so important. Obama needs the Eurobank bailout, he doesn’t really care about the war funding. He probably simply figured the war supplemental was a must-pass since Republicans consider it a crime against patriotism or something to vote against the troops. Except when they don’t, which was the mistake Obama made. Never trust a republican to be consistent.
and we can trust the dems?
Obey isn’t taking time to talk—he wants a vote asap. Does he have the votes?
OT Twitter seems to be down.
Dontcha just hate it when you have to agree with the rethugs?
Making my skin crawl.
looks like we are in one hour of debate on hr 2346.
the rule appears to have passes, but i wasn’t watching and the roll call for the rule vote is not yet posted (so i can’t check to see how each member voted).
when the roll call is posted it will be here:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/index.asp
and listed as H. Res. 545
Texas always has a problem.
Stainy is up grandstanding. What a putz.
He is on C-Span now making a fool of himself saying that Republicans lack of support is because Obama is Democrats–whether this is true or not is not a more important issue than the reality that this is a war funding bill that uses our young people and foreign civilians as military fodder and FOR THAT REASON ALONE IT SHOULD NOT BE SUPPORTED. See me on http://twitter.com/rhonefraser
Thank you Jane Hamsher. I joined Firedoglake after seeing you on Washington Journal this morning. Thank you. We need your voice. -RF.
Welcome to FDL, Rhone!
Yes, Rhone, welcome.
Isn’t it nice to be a “member” of a “club” to which you don’t have to pay $$$$, or even sell your soul.
I think you’re gonna like it here.
sh*t talks? Hmmm, didn’t know that. Anyway, Rahm can apparently speak (and presumably listen) without words. He ought to have heard and responded vehemently by now. How much leverage do they have over Texas hard-cases?
Maybe it’s a sign you’ve been sinnin’ and should seek higher advice.