Governor Greg Abbott speaks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation on October 12, 2023.
AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday announced his push for education savings accounts after months of irresolvable disagreements between the governor and some reluctant members of his own party. He expressed confidence that the bill would pass the Texas Legislature.
“We’re at the 1-yard line and in a good position now as we begin the final push,” Abbott said at an event organized by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. “I’m involved. No matter how long it takes, that race will continue. I won’t stop until Texas passes the ESA.”
Encountering unstoppable forces and immovable objects.
“Nothing changes,” San Angelo Republican Drew Darby told Nexstar on Wednesday. “Now is not the time to be cowardly…I think now we need to make our position all known and then stand our ground and never back down.November , if I’m here in December, January, February, March, I’ll be here. This is one of the things I’m passionate about. And we’re just going to avoid responsibility. there is no.”
Mr. Darby is one of about 20 local Republicans who have so far blocked Mr. Abbott’s plan from passing the House. He said he won’t be satisfied until the plan includes guardrails to ensure more funding for public education and accountability for private schools that accept state funds.
“Until we properly fund education, we’re not even going to consider it. And even if we fund education, and we fund subgroups and special needs children, We’re not going to slack off on funding. We want to take responsibility,” Darby said.
But Mr. Abbott suggested to lawmakers that he was asking for those items in the reverse order.
“I want to provide a carrot to ensure this bill passes. The Legislature has already set aside $4 billion to add funding to public education in Texas. I wrote the agenda as addressing only the ESA,” Abbott said. “If the ESA passes, I will recommend that Congress fully fund public education, including increasing teacher pay across Texas.”
Shortly after the clock struck midnight Thursday, the Texas Senate passed a $500 million plan for education savings accounts that would provide eligible families $8,000 for each child who drops out of public school. But the House has far more opposition to the court and has been much slower to move on the issue. Their version of the ESA bill has not yet been publicly debated.
Both chambers will return to session on Monday. The governor promised that if the Legislature fails to compromise and implement the ESA program this month, he will convene the Legislature back into session.