Breakaway GOP members kill teacher merit pay
A vote to eliminate the nation's largest teacher merit pay program, and instead give school professionals an across the board pay raise, was definitely the shocker in the House's marathon budget debate today.
All Democrats supported the move, except for Reps. Norma Chavez of El Paso and Sylvester Turner of Houston.
But 23 Republicans broke ranks to back the gut merit pay amendment of Houston Democrat Rick Noriega, including key Craddick allies Will Hartnett of Dallas, Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville, Mike Krusee of Round Rock, David Swinford of Dumas and Corbin Van Arsdale of Houston.
The other GOP members who voted for the Noriega amendment: Bonnen, Darby, England, Geren, Goolsby, Haggerty, Hamilton, Jones, Kuempel, McCall, Merritt, Orr, Otto, Patrick, Phillips, Pitts, Todd Smith and West.
Comments
Well, what do you know, they really can vote their districts when they have to. Congrats to Joe Heflin and Ric Noriega for putting this coalition.
Posted by: Common Sense | March 30, 2007 12:40 PM
Guess we can't reward our best teachers, can we?
Posted by: Aaron C | April 2, 2007 5:10 PM