By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Giving Texas the second-highest renewable energy standard in the nation, Gov. Rick Perry today signed legislation boosting clean energy production around the state but directed attention to the greater importance of legislators delivering school finance reform in the remaining days of the current special session.
SB 20, which passed during the first special session, requires that some 5 percent of the state's energy come from renewable energy sources by 2015 and sets a goal of 10 percent by 2025. The bill also diversifies the state's sources of energy by requiring that 500 megawatts be produced by renewable energy sources other than wind, such as solar power and biomass.
"The more we can rely on wind, water and sunlight to power our homes and businesses, the less dependent we will be on foreign oil and the better our economy will be in the long run," said Perry. The bill's author, Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay), described the bill as "a good public policy decision for the state" because it creates more jobs, less air pollution and more tax revenue for schools. "This legislation moves Texas to the forefront in the nation for renewable energy standards," he said.
Environmental advocates praised the governor for signing legislation that will double the state's goal for generating wind and solar power. "This new goal is the next step toward Texas realizing its potential to be the nation's leading producer of renewable energy," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of Public Citizen's Texas office. "Wind power, in particular, will play a major role in meeting our future energy needs."
But while SB 20 is an "important investment" in the future of Texas, Perry said it "pales in comparison" to the opportunity the legislature has to pass education reform in the remaining 19 days of the special session. The governor said he has talked to legislators and still senses "a strong interest" in delivering more money for education and property tax relief.
When asked where he has seen the interest in continuing special sessions given that legislators remain divided on the issue and have failed to passed related legislation, Perry said he has talked to members "who don't have a great interest in going home to say they failed" to give property tax relief to constituents.
"Each day that passes without education reform is another day textbooks remain in warehouses instead of being shipped to classrooms and money set aside for teacher pay raises sits idle in a bank account," he said. But a reporter pointed out that it is already too late to ship needed textbooks to classrooms for the upcoming school year. "Children deserve textbooks," Perry replied. If books don't arrive to schools by Sept. 1, they will be shipped there "as soon as possible," he said.
Perry said school districts "argue against themselves" if they claim in court that the state is not putting enough money into classrooms but then fight efforts to put a greater percentage of education dollars into classrooms. "People still want more of their tax dollars spent directly in the classroom," he said. While there is "no such thing as an easy vote on a tax bill," there is "no easy explanation for failing to pass property tax relief, funding for textbooks and teacher pay raises, and education reform."
Perry denied the two special sessions have been a waste of taxpayer dollars given that lawmakers have failed to agree on a reform package. "This is the most important issue we deal with in the state," he said. "If someone wants to stand up and say teacher pay, textbooks in schools and property tax relief are a waste of time, they have a different set of priorities than I do."
Asked why he keeps calling legislators back into session to debate school finance when the issue is being debated in court, Perry answered, "We're in special session now." While theorizing how the Supreme Court of Texas will rule on school finance "may be a great sport for political wags," people expect legislators to deal with tax policy, not the courts, he said.
Perry added that since he has heard nothing from the House or the Senate regarding their desire to adjourn sine die, legislators should continue to work on the issue. When asked if he would call legislators back for a third special session if they adjourned without passing a school finance bill, Perry replied, "You're getting ahead of yourself."
The governor suggested that he would be content with the passage of "exit strategy" legislation, which would focus solely on funds for teacher pay raises and textbooks. Any improvements to public education would be a success, he said. "If you can get a half loaf versus a full loaf, I'll take a slice or two," said Perry. "There may be a concept or two amenable to legislators."