“In Austin, I’ve got half-a-dozen or more schools on a list to be closed  one of which I presented a federal blue-ribbon award to for excellence,” said Representative Lloyd Doggett. “And several hundred school personnel on the list for possible terminations.”

So the first choice is what to do. You may not be surprised to hear that Governor Perry has rejected new taxes. He’s also currently refusing $830 million in federal aid to education because the Democratic members of Congress from Texas  ticked off because Perry used $3.2 billion in stimulus dollars for schools to plug other holes in his budget  put in special language requiring that this time Texas actually use the money for the kids.

“If I have to cast very tough votes, criticized by every Republican as too much federal spending, at least it ought to go to the purpose we voted for it,” said Doggett.

Nobody wants to see underperforming, overcrowded schools being deprived of more resources anywhere. But when it happens in Texas, it’s a national crisis. The birth rate there is the highest in the country, and if it continues that way, Texas will be educating about a tenth of the future population. It ranks third in teen pregnancies  always the children most likely to be in need of extra help. And it is No. 1 in repeat teen pregnancies.

Image Gail Collins Credit... Earl Wilson/The New York Times

Which brings us to choice two. Besides reducing services to children, Texas is doing as little as possible to help women  especially young women  avoid unwanted pregnancy.