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.

2008 Presidential Elections Vote by Income

2008 U.S. Presidential Vote by Income
(Source: The Dallas Morning News November 6, 2008)

Total Obama McCain Other/No Answer
< $15,000 (6%) 73% 25% 2%
15,000-30,000 (12%) 60% 37% 3%
30,000-50,000 (19%) 55% 43% 2%
50,000-75,000 (21%) 48% 49% 3%
75,000-100,000 (15%) 51% 48% 1%
100,000-150,000 (14%) 48% 51% 1%
150,000-200,000 (6%) 48% 50% 2%
> 200,000 (6%) 52% 46% 2%

Background of Offshore Oil Drilling Limitations

The 1969 oil spillage off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA galvanized massive support to limit offshore drilling. As a result of the spillage, pro-environment movement intensified, leading to creation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) next year (1970) and legislation in Congress (1981) limiting the scale and scope of offshore drilling.