Dan Patrick Asked For A House Vote On School Choice. He Got It.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has challenged the House to at least take a vote on the Senate's "private school choice" bill, one of his priorities for the Texas legislative session.
Early on during Thursdays marathon budget discussion, House representatives showed him that vote would probably emerge as an overwhelming no.
They voted 103-44 to prevent state money from being spent to subsidize private school tuition, in an amendment to the Senate budget. In offering the amendment, with support from state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, said it was in support of our public schools and our neighborhood schools.
The amendment is not the last word. The House and Senate will need to reconcile their budgets before sending a final version to the governor for approval. And separate legislation that would create a public subsidy for private education has yet to be heard in the House. Patricks office did not immediately return requests for comment on Thursday's vote.
Read more: http://kut.org/post/dan-patrick-asked-house-vote-school-choice-he-got-it