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Lt. Governor Ratliff
Speaker Pete Laney
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Lieutenant
Governor Bill Ratliff and House Speaker Pete Laney appointed a joint
select committee to study the public school finance system in
September of this year.
The Committee held its only hearing in North Texas today at the
Fidelity Campus Auditorium in Westlake.
Ratliff
and Laney charged the Joint Select Committee on Public School
Finance with conducting a comprehensive review of the structure of
the Texas public school finance system, including facilities and
transportation issues; the method used to fund public schools; and
the criteria used to determine state payments to school districts.
The
legislative leaders also instructed the select committee to
carefully consider all of the equity issues that govern public
school finance and fully examine all of the revenue resources for
funding public schools, including the state's property tax system.
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An overflow crowd
of more than 500 jammed into the 300 seat auditorium
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The
Westlake hearing was by far the largest public hearing conducted
by the Committee. The consensus of the more than 500
attending was that the Robin Hood finance plan is not working for
this area and it should be changed.
Representative Vicki Truitt had requested one of the six hearings
be held in the North Texas area. Representative Truitt, who had
hoped for a large citizen turn-out certainly received her wish.
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Representative Kenn
George received a wild ovation when he said that his constituents
were "Madder than hell and weren't going to take it any more.
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Representative
Kenn George (R-Highland Park) was the first witness before the
committee. George said that the Highland Park School
District pays $60 million in Robin Hood funds and Plano $100
million out of the $600 million collected.
 Click
to Hear Rep. George
His
last few words may be difficult to hear, George says that if there was tea in his
district, his constituents would be dumping the tea in the room
this minute. The crowd broke out in loud clapping and cheers
at his reference to the Boston Tea Party, taxation without
representation comparison. |
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Chairman Teel Bivins
(R-Amarillo) found it difficult to control outburst from the crowd
when Robin Hood was criticized.
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Committee Member Senator Royce West (D-Dallas) challenged Rep
George to come up with specific alternative options to Robin Hood
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Ratliff
appointed Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo, Sen. Steve Ogden of
College Station, Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano, Sen. Eliot
Shapleigh of El Paso, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio,
and Sen. Royce West of Dallas to the committee |
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(l to R) Senator Jane
Nelson, Representative Todd Smith and Senator Leticia Van de Putte
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Senator Jane Nelson
attended, Senator Nelson is expected to be a Congressional
Candidate for retiring House Majority Leader Dick Armey
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House
members appointed by Laney include Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson,
Rep. Harold Dutton of Houston, Rep. Kent Grusendorf of Arlington,
Rep. Scott Hochberg of Houston, Rep. Rene Oliveira of Brownsville,
and Rep. Todd Smith of Bedford. |
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Committee Member
Senator Florence Shapiro of (R-Plano)
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Representative Kenn
George testifying before the Select Committee on Public School
Finance
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A panel from the
Allen School District testifying before the Committee
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Local District 98
State Representative Vicki Truitt (R-Grapevine) was instrumental
in bringing the public hearing to North Texas
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Joint Committee on
Public School Finance meets in Westlake
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Chairman Senator Teel
Bivins brought the Committee Hearing to order promptly at 10 AM.
Many late arrivers found it impossible to get into the jammed
packed room.
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The hearing attracted
a large coverage from the media and press
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The critical
importance of Robin Hood Finance to the area was evident by the
large turn out of locally elected officials. Councilwoman
Darlene Freed of Grapevine was among the those in attendance.
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