Houston - Governor Greg Abbott: "A win-win for everybody not just a win for legislators, but most importantly a win-win for parents, for students, for teachers, for educators, for schools across the entire state of Texas ."
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Texas senate backs Governor Abbott's push for school choice
Abbott's school choice push in Texas gains momentum with Senate support, offering substantial public-school funding and teacher raises in exchange for a $10,400/year private school voucher program with no income restrictions.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott forecasting a major breakthrough in his ongoing crusade to bring "school choice" to the Lone Star state.
Backed by the Texas Senate and frankly, pretty persuasive state-wide poll numbers, Abbott believes he's got a "deal" with House Speaker Dade Phelan and previously reluctant rural Republican lawmakers.
The mind-changing, vote-altering "clincher" - a major increase in funding for public schools and a substantial pay raise for all Texas teachers.
Patrick and Phelan still feuding
If the "purported" bargain holds during what's certain to be the "next" special session, Abbott will get a "choice option" that's "far" more expansive than any on the table thus far - with $10.400 per year for private school "vouchers" and no household income restrictions on a student's eligibility.
Here's the fundamental pitch.
State Senator Kelly Hancock (R) Tarrant County: " We want to make sure that every family has the opportunity to do what's best for their child knowing that every child's different. I have families where one child may be in public school while the other is in a private school with assistance...and I think what the state's trying to do what we are trying to do is provide the best option for every family."
The state is so flush with surplus money - republican leadership basically sweetened the compensation into an "offer that will be hard to refuse"
Watch the full show - November 5, 2023