Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Cartoon #191: “Special Session”

Title: Special Session; Text: Rick Perry and the Half-Baked Plan: 'School's out forever!

On June 18, 2005, Governor Rick Perry cast a dark spell over the State of Texas by vetoing $35.3 billion for public education in the new Texas state budget, and calling a special session of the legislature. Lawmakers must now come up with a new school funding plan (something they have failed to do after three sessions under Perry’s “leadership,” despite its top priority) or there will be no 2005-2006 school year in Texas.

That’s because District Judge John Dietz of Austin declared the current school finance system unconstitutional and ordered funding to stop in October if it is not corrected. In the session that ended May 30, the school budget barely passed. Now they have 30 days for deja voodoo all over again. The state’s appeal of Judge Dietz’s ruling was scheduled for July 6. Meanwhile, Texas school children await the July 16 release of the sixth Harry Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Bood Prince.” Given the slim chance that Texas schools will open again, they will probably have plenty of time to read it.

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