Texas Gov. Rick Perry is taking heat for his recent veto of funding for the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. The veto could end a plan to develop the center into a full-fledged academic department.
The Center for Mexican Americans Studies was set to be supported by a line item in the state budget until Perry crossed it out.
Domino Perez, the director of the center, said she was caught off guard by the veto.
“We were certainly disappointed. We had been hopeful that we would receive the appropriation," Perez said.
Perez said she has not heard if the University of Texas will be able to restore the $1.5 million that was cut.
“Helping to fund the department of Mexican-American studies would not necessarily constitute wasteful spending considering that Mexican-Americans make up 38 percent of the state," Perez said. "As the largest growing minority-majority I think that Mexican-American studies can provide one path to the future of the state.”
Perry explained the veto was because the university sought the funds as special item rather than requesting money through the main budget legislation.
