Doggett Amendment and Texas Politics

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin has inserted an amendment in the recently-passed $10b jobs bill that would ensure that Texas would keep the same level of education funding if it applies for $830 million federal grant from the education department. Doggett has inserted the amendment in the backdrop of Perry administration's use of last year's $3.2b stimulus money to partly replace the state educational funding. However, applying for $830 million federal grant, the Texas Education Agency was unable to give the guaranty as sought by the Doggett Amendment. As a result, state's application was rejected. Perry administration argued that it was the prerogative of the state legislature to set the funding levels and anything contrary to that would violate the state constitution.