The Stakes in This (Other) Race ....

Democratic plan fails by one vote

The Texas House turned back a Democratic proposal for a school finance overhaul by one vote today, barely avoiding what would have been a major change in the direction of the special legislative session.

The House defeated the Democrats' proposal with a 75-74 vote, with Speaker Tom Craddick casting the deciding vote after the rest of the House was tied. Speakers generally do not vote, although Craddick has regularly done so on major proposals this year.

The plan drew the support of every Democrat and 12 Republicans.

One vote short of a being a third of the way through with an education deal. A deal that would have represented a greater amount of tax relief to 144 out of the 150 State Rep districts, no less. Now the ball is in the GOP's court to see how they'll excuse themselves for voting for their own plan that a) does nothing in the classroom, and b) has higher taxes than the Hochberg plan. I can't wait to hear the arguments for that.

On another note, it bears some applause that this vote got 100% of the Democrats on the same page ... even Sly Turner, Al Edwards, Vilma Luna, et al. That's a coup on both the organizational front by party leadership as well as those who often earn our criticism. So, for a day ... kudos.