Is Perry playing the numbers with the state lottery?

by Rusty Rothenbuescher

Austin, March 30 - Gov. Rick Perry's announcement Feb. 8 to sell the Texas Lottery Commission to fund public education and cancer research has left many questions looming over the details of the proposal, especially when it comes to the numbers.

The governor's office estimates the lottery could be sold for between $14 and $28 billion based on financial advice provided by the firms Morgan Stanley, UBS Investment Bank, and Goldman Sachs. According to the governor's plan, proceeds from a $14 million sale would then be divvied into three endowments: a $3 billion fund for cancer research, $8.3 billion for public education, and a $2.7 billion...... (more)

Governor pushes to advance merit pay to the chagrin of teachers

by Rusty Rothenbuescher

AUSTIN - Increasing wages for teachers has been a hot topic in the Texas capitol for several years, but Gov. Perry's plan to expand the merit pay program has drawn severe criticism from an unlikely source - teachers.

In May 2006 during a special session, the Legislature enacted the Texas Educator Excellence Grant Program. The program allocated $100 million of state funds to school districts across the state for creating and implementing merit pay plans. In the 2007-2009 proposed biennium budget...... (more)