A cabal of 20 Republican lawmakers on Tuesday voted against a popular measure to exempt spouses and dependents of soldiers on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan from paying out-of-state tuition rates.
[UPDATE: We're getting in statements we requested from a few of the 20 members]
The vote came on an amendment by State Rep. Mark Veasey (D-Fort Worth) to amend a Senate bill allowing post-9/11 veterans to pay in-state tuition rates regardless of the time they have lived in the state.
The Republicans voting against the measure were, according to unofficial results from the Texas House of Representatives:
Nays – Brown, B.; Chisum; Crabb; Craddick; Creighton; Elkins; Flynn; Hancock; Hartnett; Howard, C.; Legler; Riddle; Sheffield; Shelton; Smithee; Swinford; Truitt; Weber; Woolley; Zerwas [Note: Rep. Sheffield's office advises us that he changed his vote on the amendment but that the change isn't reflected online].
This will no doubt cause problems for a number of these Republicans in the next election cycle, as they have handed their Democratic opponents a made-for-TV vote to attack.
UPDATES:
Rep. Ken Legler’s office has released this statement on his vote. As expected, he cites fiscal concerns:
Representative Legler made the decision to vote against the Veasey amendment to SB 297 solely due to the uncertain fiscal ramifications. Representative Legler is supportive of access to higher education for those serving in the Armed Forces as well as their families, but he could not support the amendment without having an estimate of what the cost would be to the state.
Now, some Republicans are reportedly reconsidering their votes. From Rep. Betty Brown’s Chief of Staff, Jackie King:
Representative Brown immediately reconsidered her vote after the count.
April 13, 2009 at 8:25 am
apology and Ko’s description of their conversation. In addition, there are link roundups of most coverage of the incident from April 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 14, 2009 at 11:00 am
there are link roundups of most coverage of the incident from the 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 13, 2009 at 6:12 pm
. In addition, there are link roundups of most coverage of the incident from the 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 13, 2009 at 3:34 pm
of most coverage of the incident from the 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 13, 2009 at 2:53 pm
are link roundups of most coverage of the incident from the 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annex. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 13, 2009 at 1:43 pm
apology and Ko’s description of their conversation. In addition, there are link roundups of most coverage of the incident from April 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
April 13, 2009 at 3:31 am
roundups of most coverage of the incident from the 9th and 10th. And don’t miss law professor Frank Wu’s exploration of the matter. We will provide further updates as this story continues to develop. Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tagged: Texas, Texas Blogs, Texas Politics, Texas Progressive Alliance, Views From Texas
April 7, 2009 at 6:19 pm
[...] 20 Republicans Vote Against Education Benefits For Dependents Of Active Duty Soldiers [...]
April 9, 2009 at 12:54 pm
It is very easy for a legislature to give away its citizens’ money. A wise legislator, however, must be a good steward of state revenues. Rep. Veasey’s amendment gives an incentive to every overseas soldier from 49 other states to change their legal residence to Texas to instantly obtain free college tuition in Texas for their children. Providing benefits to Texan soldiers is laudable. Providing full college scholarships to the children of NON-TEXAN soldiers, though it may sound good to some, is political grandstanding at huge cost to hardworking Texas taxpayers who will not receive this free ride for their children..
April 9, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Hartnett is 1/2 way right. Who would want to come to this lousy state for an over rated, over priced education anyway?
April 9, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Rep Hartnett, that is not a very serious answer considering that if soldiers need a reason to declare Texas (other than coming to consider Texas home, that is) then no state income tax will have a more immediate impact on the wallet than prospective tuition.
April 13, 2009 at 7:19 pm
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veter…. [...]
April 13, 2009 at 8:10 pm
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veter…. [...]
April 14, 2009 at 4:11 am
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veter…. [...]
September 16, 2009 at 9:02 pm
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex takes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veter…. [...]
April 30, 2010 at 3:42 am
[...] 9.20 Republicans Vote Against Education Benefits For Dependents Of Outside Austin, But Terribly Well Connected … Vince at Capitol Annextakes a look at the 20 Republicans in the Texas House who voted against education benefits for veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://capitolannex.com/2009/04/07/20-republicans-vote-against-education-benefits-for-dependents-of-active-duty-soldiers/ [...]