Texas House debates $1 billion school choice bill amid controversy and protests
Texas House members debated into the night the bill that would spend $1 billion of taxpayer money for education savings accounts, allowing students to attend private school.
Democratic State Rep. James Talarico of Austin proposed an amendment to require Texas voters to approve this legislation before it could become law.
"The governor has said private school vouchers are widely popular, and so, if he's telling the truth, I would think this referendum would have no trouble passing," said Talarico. "I would also think the governor would welcome the opportunity to finally have a mandate on this controversial topic."
Republican Rep. Mitch Little of Lewisville rejected that.
"Rep.Talerico, if we're going to delegate our lawmaking authority directly to the people, why do we need to be here at all?" asked Little. "Why don't we just do that with everything? Is there a good reason to do that?"
"I think this body is justified in sending this issue to the voters for their approval because of its impact on public education," Talaric answered. "Because of its impact on taxes."
Under the legislation, students who go to an accredited private school would receive $10,000 a year. Disabled students could receive up to $30,000 a year, while homeschooled students would get $2,000 a year.
Opponents of this bill rallied in the rotunda, their voices reverberating throughout the Texas Capitol. They worry that money for this program will take away from school districts, something Republicans deny.
The governor said he's very confident the legislation will pass the Texas House.
There is still plenty of debate left Wednesday night.
Gov. Abbott receives call from President Trump hours before vote on school choice
Earlier in the day, President Trump called into a meeting Abbott held with House Republicans and offered encouragement.
Abbott met with House Republicans for a pep talk hours before the vote on a school choice bill that would spend $1 billion in taxpayer money to send students to private schools.
"This is a big vote today and I hope you are able to vote in a positive manner," Mr. Trump said.
After the meeting, Abbott told CBS News Texas, the only TV station present for the interview, what his message was to the House GOP Caucus.
"We are working to make sure that we use this pathway of creating school choice to put Texas on a pathway to becoming the number one state in the United States for educating our kids," the governor said. "That begins right here, right now, today, in the Texas Capitol."
"It was an honor to hear from President Trump about the great work we're doing here in Texas," Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco said. "He named our Speaker, our Lt. Gov., our governor by name, Chairman Buckley by name."
Democrats push for voter approval amendment amid protests at Texas Capitol
Democrats hope enough Republican lawmakers will join them in passing an amendment that would require Texas voters to approve this before it could become law. School choice opponents, who are wearing red shirts, have been making their voices heard at the Capitol on Wednesday, chanting against the school choice bill.
Democratic lawmakers have also been leading some of the chants during an impromptu news conference in the Capitol rotunda. Among them, Rep. Mihaela Plesa. She told CBS News Texas that she and other House Democrats will support an amendment that would require Texas voters to approve this before it could become law.
"I think Texans should have a vote on this," she said. "I think their voice is the one that matters on their schools, whether they're choosing to go to a private school or a public school. This is about choice, so let's give the voters the choice."
Plesa, other Democratic lawmakers and other opponents believe spending taxpayer money to send students to private school will hurt public schools in at least two ways: schools will get less money if students leave for private school and they say funding spent on education savings accounts will ultimately take away money for public schools. Republicans disagree, saying parents deserve another choice for their students' education.
Public school funding bill
Also on Wednesday, the Texas House passed HB 2, the public school funding bill, which Republican leaders say will represent the largest increase in money for school districts. HB 2 and other bills will provide about $9 billion in new money.
"Texas public schools are the backbone of our communities, and today the House delivered a historic investment to bolster public education for the next generation," Speaker Dustin Burrows said Wednesday. "House Bill 2 lays the foundation for a modernized, responsive school finance system that will grow with the needs of Texas students while targeting taxpayer dollars where they'll make the greatest impact for students and teachers.
It comes as school districts have had to pass deficit budgets and close school campuses in the past couple of years because there was about $4.5 billion for schools left on the sidelines after support for school choice fell apart in the House.
"The Texas House took a monumental step to increase education funding and teacher pay raises that puts Texas on the path to education excellence for our students," Abbott said after the bill passed 144-4, with two absent. "Since I have been Governor, public education funding and average teacher pay have reached all-time highs and, now, House Bill 2 will add $7.7 billion more to fund a high-quality education for the next generation of Texas leaders. I thank Speaker Dustin Burrows and Chairman Brad Buckley for their steadfast leadership, and I look forward to signing this bill into law."
Film incentive bill
The Senate also passed a bill that would more than double the amount of money the state spends on film and TV production incentives.
SB 22 would infuse $500 million into a new fund every two years for the next 10 years. The bill passed 23 to 8.
Opponents said they're concerned about how the governor's office will decide which productions will get the funding.
The bill now heads to the House.
