Border lawmakers have expressed delight that Gov. Rick Perry supports full funding for the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso and the Irma Rangel School of Pharmacy in Kingsville.

Perry pledged his support in Wednesday's State of the State address. He urged the legislature to fully fund both higher education facilities.

"When it comes to a healthier border region, I ask you to make two critical investments," Perry said. "Let's fully fund the Irma Rangel Pharmacy School in Kingsville. And let's fully fund the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso."

Texas Tech officials have said they need $68 million to hire school faculty for the El Paso medical school and $45 million for buildings. The medical school is El Paso's top legislative priority this session. Perry has said the $68 million is a "reasonable figure."

Texas A&M officials have requested $6.8 million for the Rangel pharmacy school for 2006 and $6.5 million for 2007. The college's first class is scheduled to begin course work in September. Officials say they need the funding to open it.

"I am pleased that Perry recognized the medical needs along the border," said Rep. Paul Moreno (D-El Paso). "We need the Rangel pharmacy school and the Texas Tech medical school built. I am pleased we have the Governor's support."

Rep. Juan Escobar (D-Kingsville) said Perry's call for full funding does not guarantee that the money will be forthcoming. He said the legislature still had to include funding in the appropriations bill. However, Escobar said Perry's strong public endorsement would be a major boost.

"The Governor has always been a strong supporter of the Rangel College and he proved that again in his speech today," Escobar said. "The people of South Texas and the entire border region owe Governor Perry a debt of gratitude for his constant and unwavering support for the Rangel College."

Escobar said that fully funding the pharmacy school was his "Number One Priority" for the legislative session. He said he introduced HB 180 in the House to appropriate $3 million to the Texas A&M System to reimburse it for the funds it advanced to Texas A&M-Kingsville this year and to add an additional $13 million to operate the college over the next two years.

Escobar said his bill is designed to allow the members of the House to demonstrate their support in order to encourage the House Appropriations Committee to include funding in the state budget.

Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville) said he was "thankful" that Perry had recommitted his promise of two years ago to support increased funding for the Rangel pharmacy school and the El Paso medical school.

"The needs of the Border deserve greater funding and attention by those in Austin," Lucio said. "I will work with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and with the senior member of the Border delegation, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, to comprehensively address the needs of the Border region."

Lucio told Border Buzz that the work did not just mean articulating positions on the Senate floor and sitting in committees. He said it also involved making sure state leaders visit the Valley, Laredo and El Paso to see the "phenomenal" population growth.

"My goal has to be to make sure that the leadership understands the decisions that need to be made and why those decisions need to be made now," Lucio said. "If we don't addresses issues like school finance and access to health care now, it's going to cost a lot more later on. We are just busting with growth in the Valley."

Much of Perry's speech dealt with education reform. He said Texas had more than 660,000 Limited English Proficient students and that many of them show up for class several grades behind.

"We must provide meaningful progress incentives for schools that serve mostly disadvantaged student populations," Perry said. "The challenges these schools face are difficult but not impossible. Let's meet this challenge with new resources, proven teachers and higher expectations."

Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) said he was disappointed Perry did not come up with a school finance plan.

"In a state where leaders value tax cuts over kids, great schools will not be a priority," Shapleigh said. "Here we are, three sessions into school finance without a plan. We heard a lot about a great future but a great future depends on a great education. The facts in Texas are that Texas is dead last in graduation rates. Texas is 48th in average SAT scores. Texas is 46th in secondary teachers certified for the courses they teach. Plainly, we must have leadership to have investments in our children and in our future."

Moreno said that while he disagreed with Perry on many policy issues, he admired his honesty. He said he wished some of his Democratic colleagues were as bold.