The governor kindly reminded lawmakers, that there may be political consequences if they are unable, to pass legislation for publicly subsidized school vouchers before the March primaries.
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Governor Greg, Abbott has announced that the special session on “school choice” will finally begin next month. He is determined to pass his priority legislation and warns that there may be political consequences for lawmakers who oppose it.
“There are two ways to accomplish this, and both options are available,” Abbott mentioned during a tele-town hall discussing the matter. “We are open to either holding a special session or addressing it after an election. We value your input and want to find the most convenient solution for everyone.”
Lawmakers have been anticipating the start of the special session in October, and Governor Abbott now provides the most specific timing yet. His candid comments about the politics serve to increase pressure on the Texas House Republicans who have been hindering the proposal.
“If we don’t succeed in the initial special session, we’ll have another special session and make a comeback Abbott stated. “And if we don’t prevail then, I believe it’s time to entrust the decision to the voters themselves.”
“We’ve got everything set up so that voters in a primary will have a choice Abbott added, ensuring that we have all our bases covered.
Abbott entered this year more determined than e”We’ve got everything set up so that voters in a primary will have a choice Abbott added, ensuring that we have all our bases covered.ver to pass “school choice,” a proposal to let parents use taxpayer dollars to take their children out of public school. The idea has long encountered resistance in the House, where a coalition of Democrats and rural Republicans have blocked it.
During the regular legislative session, the coalition remained resilient ensuring that no school choice proposal made its way to the House floor.
Abbott promised to hold several special sessions to address pending matters, such as school choice, after the regular session concluded. The divide between the House and Senate has continued to grow as evidenced by consecutive special sessions on a property tax issue and the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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The trial wrapped up on Saturday as the Senate cleared Paxton of all 16 articles of impeachment. This comes after the House voted overwhelmingly to impeach him back in May. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized the House’s impeachment process following the verdict, but House Speaker Dade Phelan, who is also a Republican, countered by suggesting that Patrick had been biased from the beginning.
