Continuing to follow Perry taking money from unemployment insurance and giving it to A&M:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/03/31/0331grant.html
With the headline "How biotech plan turned into political storm."
Jason Embry reports of the $50 million transfer by Gov. 39% "that quiet transaction has spurred an onslaught of questions about the Emerging Technology Fund, one of Gov. Rick Perry's signature programs."
A major critic of Perry's funds transfer is Chairman of House Appropriations Committee Jim Pitts. The Committee is placing riders in legislation to prevent such a unilateral move in the future.
Perry had not planned on announcing the funding yet; investigation by legislators made the transfer public. Pitts is also questioning why the A&M center seems to be working with financially strapped pharmaceutical firms on the project.
Showing posts with label Jim Pitts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Pitts. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Perry routes funds from Unemployment Insurance to alma mater
The Quorum Report covers what happened yesterday afternoon in the dust-up between Gov. 39% and House Appropriations Chair Pitts over Perry's possibly improper allocation of $50 million to A&M.
http://www.quorumreport.com/
It appears that not only were the funds sent to A&M outside of the usual process, but also the money came at least indirectly from the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Pitts expressed concern about the way the money was acquired and routed and proposed "riders that will rein in
Governor's discretion to transfer monies between trustee programs."
In the introduction to their special report (the entire report is available to their subscribers only), Quorum traces the route the money took: " The connection is indirect but at the same time fairly evident. Statute requires the Texas Workforce Commission to transfer $120 million from the unemployment insurance fund to the Employment and Training Investment Assessment fund. The money is then divvied between a skills development program and the Texas Enterprise Fund. As has been reported, $50 million was transferred from the enterprise fund to the Emerging Technology Fund, which awarded the money to A&M."
As this story continues to unfold--and as reporters continue to cover it--it means negative publicity for Perry continues.
http://www.quorumreport.com/
It appears that not only were the funds sent to A&M outside of the usual process, but also the money came at least indirectly from the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Pitts expressed concern about the way the money was acquired and routed and proposed "riders that will rein in
Governor's discretion to transfer monies between trustee programs."
In the introduction to their special report (the entire report is available to their subscribers only), Quorum traces the route the money took: " The connection is indirect but at the same time fairly evident. Statute requires the Texas Workforce Commission to transfer $120 million from the unemployment insurance fund to the Employment and Training Investment Assessment fund. The money is then divvied between a skills development program and the Texas Enterprise Fund. As has been reported, $50 million was transferred from the enterprise fund to the Emerging Technology Fund, which awarded the money to A&M."
As this story continues to unfold--and as reporters continue to cover it--it means negative publicity for Perry continues.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Perry funnels money outside of proper channels
This morning's Statesman legislative blog reports that the back and forth about the Perry's unorthodox funneling of funds to A&M is not cooling off. In fact, the headline is Battle Between Perry and Pitts Heats Up. Jim Pitts is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and over the last few days, he has been questioning Perry's action.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/firstreading/entries/2009/03/27/battle_between_perry_and_pitts.html
The Statesman says, "fireworks could come in the afternoon."
Below is a brief recap of the brouhaha. Follow the link "revelations" to read more background.
"Committee Chairman Jim Pitts wants to ask more questions about a $50 million Emerging Technology Fund grant to the Texas A&M University System, particularly in light of revelations Thursday that the fund’s 17-member panel did not review the grant, as is its custom. Pitts said he had been led to believe by the governor’s office that the panel did review it.
"The governor’s press shop used the panel’s approval earlier in the week to shield Perry from criticism about the grant. Spokeswoman Allison Castle, who volunteered Thursday that the panel had in fact not reviewed the grant, said she got bad information from someone else in the governor’s office."
If Pitts's pummeling continues, could this bad publicity through the legislative session weaken Gov. 39% further, working to benefit KBH? Perry had hoped that his being on-site, hands-on during the high-profile session while KBH necessarily was mainly in DC would help him, but it won't if he further angers legislators, resulting in continuing negative coverage.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/firstreading/entries/2009/03/27/battle_between_perry_and_pitts.html
The Statesman says, "fireworks could come in the afternoon."
Below is a brief recap of the brouhaha. Follow the link "revelations" to read more background.
"Committee Chairman Jim Pitts wants to ask more questions about a $50 million Emerging Technology Fund grant to the Texas A&M University System, particularly in light of revelations Thursday that the fund’s 17-member panel did not review the grant, as is its custom. Pitts said he had been led to believe by the governor’s office that the panel did review it.
"The governor’s press shop used the panel’s approval earlier in the week to shield Perry from criticism about the grant. Spokeswoman Allison Castle, who volunteered Thursday that the panel had in fact not reviewed the grant, said she got bad information from someone else in the governor’s office."
If Pitts's pummeling continues, could this bad publicity through the legislative session weaken Gov. 39% further, working to benefit KBH? Perry had hoped that his being on-site, hands-on during the high-profile session while KBH necessarily was mainly in DC would help him, but it won't if he further angers legislators, resulting in continuing negative coverage.
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