Just For Grins

Attorney General Eric Holder often did not know, could not recall or just was not sure during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday as House Republicans grilled him over controversies including the IRS’s targeting of Tea Partiers, the Justice Department’s seizure of journalist phone records, and the security lapses surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing.

Watch 1 1/2 minutes of pasted-together answers from Eric Holder.

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Just For Grins

Attorney General Eric Holder often did not know, could not recall or just was not sure during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday as House Republicans grilled him over controversies including the IRS’s targeting of Tea Partiers, the Justice Department’s seizure of journalist phone records, and the security lapses surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing.

Watch 1 1/2 minutes of pasted-together answers from Eric Holder.

By Peggy Fikac

AUSTIN — Public schools would be boosted by about $4 billion under a Friday budget agreement, which also paves the way for a significant state investment in long-neglected water infrastructure.

The budget deal allowed legislative negotiators to begin wrapping up a proposed spending plan for the next two years that is expected to total something under $195.5 billion in state and federal funding combined.

“We’ve written a good budget for the people of Texas here,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, said after negotiators tentatively OK’d Senate Bill 1.

The main budget measure, SB1 will require a final OK from negotiators and approval by the full House and Senate before it’s sent to Gov. Rick Perry. Other legislation working its way through the process  also will contain parts of the budget agreement.

Lawmakers were under pressure to advance the bill because the session ends May 27, and legislative deadlines kick in before then. During negotiations, House Democrats stood firm for at least $3.9 billion for schools, which were cut back $5.4 billion two years ago in the face of a projected shortfall.

“It represents a symbolic step in the right direction,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, who said…

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By Peggy Fikac

AUSTIN — Public schools would be boosted by about $4 billion under a Friday budget agreement, which also paves the way for a significant state investment in long-neglected water infrastructure.

The budget deal allowed legislative negotiators to begin wrapping up a proposed spending plan for the next two years that is expected to total something under $195.5 billion in state and federal funding combined.

“We’ve written a good budget for the people of Texas here,” Senate Finance Committee Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, said after negotiators tentatively OK’d Senate Bill 1.

The main budget measure, SB1 will require a final OK from negotiators and approval by the full House and Senate before it’s sent to Gov. Rick Perry. Other legislation working its way through the process also will contain parts of the budget agreement.

Lawmakers were under pressure to advance the bill because the session ends May 27, and legislative deadlines kick in before then. During negotiations, House Democrats stood firm for at least $3.9 billion for schools, which were cut back $5.4 billion two years ago in the face of a projected shortfall.

“It represents a symbolic step in the right direction,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, who said the infusion for education was “significant,” although it didn’t completely restore the funding that was cut. “I’m not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Besides restoring funding, he said, “It shows that Republicans and Democrats can get back to the days when we can work together.”

“I think it’s a good deal for our school kids,” said Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Houston Democrat who was part of the budget conference committee. “It’s not a full restoration, but I think in this legislative session, and considering all of the political dynamics, it’s a good deal.”

Democrats had leverage in negotiations because a priority of state leaders is taking $2 billion from the rainy-day fund for water infrastructure, which requires a two-thirds legislative vote. Republicans have a legislative majority, but not a two-thirds majority.

Senate leaders also want to constitutionally dedicate the money, another action that requires two-thirds legislative approval before going on a statewide ballot for voter consideration.

Constitutionally dedicating the money would keep it from counting against the state spending cap, sparing Republicans a difficult vote to break the cap.

The education funding portion of the deal includes $3.4 billion that would be directed to schools through formulas plus other funding, primarily to help schools with Teacher Retirement System costs.

Northside Independent School District Superintendent Brian T. Woods said he hadn’t seen models for how the money would be distributed, but he said, “From what I’ve seen, I’ll say that it’s a great start.

“I think that this session we saw the parties work together a lot better than I have recently, and I’m appreciative that public education was a high priority,” Woods said. “This is not $5.4 billion obviously, but it’s a good start.”

Woods said the funding “will allow school districts to hire back a lot of the positions that were cut two years ago, and that’ll translate directly to helping students.”

While the agreement was a break through, lawmakers still have many moving parts with which to contend.

Tension was clear when Turner questioned Williams at Friday’s conference committee hearing about why part of the extra education funding was being handled in a supplemental spending bill, rather than in the main budget. Williams said, “Because I said so” and asked whether Turner was “questioning my veracity.”

Turner said, “I don’t get into motivations or intent … I take you at your word.”

Perry has added pressure by telling lawmakers he wants them to send him $1.8 billion in tax relief if they want to avoid a special session.

The Senate Finance Committee advanced House-backed franchise-tax-break legislation Friday.

Williams said a Senate bill to give refunds to business and residential utility customers from the System Benefit Fund is another key part of a tax-and-fee relief package that senators have designed. He and Turner, however, are at odds over that issue.

“A part of that agreement is to make sure that the System Benefit Fund bill is passed through the House. … That’ a very important component of the $1 billion-plus tax relief package that’s contemplated,” Williams said.

Turner, however, opposes the refund because the money originally was collected to help needy customers in competitive electric markets with their utility bills.

He said it should be used for that purpose. There is a large sum in the fund because lawmakers haven’t allocated it. It instead has been used to help balance past budgets. Lawmakers are trying to chip away at such unspent balances, which they say are accounting tricks.

“It’s not part of the budget deal in any way,” said Turner of Williams’ refund measure.

Perry’s staff declined to weigh in on the agreement.

By Wayne Slater

Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott says he wants tea party groups that have been targeted by the IRS to contact his office. Although Abbott doesn’t have any direct responsibility in the matter, he says a special federal prosecutor ought to be appointed to investigate the scandal. If that happens, he says he would forward the information to the prospector. The Obama administration is battling a backlash over revelations that the IRS singled out conservative groups with names that include the words “tea party” and “patriot.” Abbott is considering running for governor next year.

“News reports indicate that at least three groups in Texas may have been subjected to the unnecessary and possibly illegal harassment by the IRS. I join in the calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate this very serious situation. I encourage any 501(c)(4) organizations in Texas that believe they were improperly targeted by the IRS to contact the Texas Attorney General’s Office. My office will gather this information and provide it to a special prosecutor once one has been named to aid in their investigation. It is important that we find out who else in Texas may have had their legal rights violated and ensure that justice is served,” his statement said.

The IRS also papered at least one progressive group in Texas with questions in…

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By Phillip Swarts

Welcome to Whopper of the Week: Damage Control edition.

It’s been a rough week for the White House. First, there was the ongoing investigation into the administration’s explanations about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Then, the Internal Revenue Service admitted it had been targeting Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny. And then it was revealed that the Justice Department had obtained the phone records of The Associated Press – and possibly others – to unmask the journalists’ sources.

So what has the administration’s response been? A lot of stretching of facts to deflect blame.

That’s why we’re awarding the Obama administration the Whopper of the Week, a distinction handed out by the Washington Guardian to examples of backpedalling, stretched facts and misstatements from politicians.

During a press conference Monday (with British Prime Minister David Cameron), President Barack Obama made it clear that he called the Benghazi attacks  what they were: terrorist acts.

“The day after it happened, I acknowledged that this was an act of terrorism,” Obama told a reporter.  …

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