Passing school choice was Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s top priority when he declared a third special session. Dade Phalen, and the left-leaning cabal backing him, had other priorities, namely taking long weekends instead of getting legislative work done. This is despite the Senate passing school choice legislation early in the special session.
Now Abbott has responded to Phelan’s sloth and antipathy to school choice with another special session.
Almost as soon as the third special session of 2023 ended, the fourth one began as Gov. Greg Abbott issued his proclamation setting the start for the next special session for 5 p.m. Tuesday — the same day the previous one came to a close.
The fourth special session is an attempt to pull items across the finish line that stalled out during the October special, including an education savings account program, the creation of a penalty for illegal entry into the state from a foreign nation, border barrier funding, and a medley of school funding measures.
The proclamation includes:
Creating an education savings account program Providing a pay raise to teachers and other school employees Increasing school funding through the basic student allotment Additional school safety and security measures Establishing a state penalty for illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation, with removal language for state law enforcement Appropriating more funding for the construction of border barriers Allotting more state dollars to fund overtime expenses associated with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s operations in Colony Ridge,/li> Abbott said, “The Texas Legislature made progress over the past month protecting Texans from forced COVID-19 vaccinations and increasing penalties for human smuggling.”
“However, there is more work to be done. I am immediately calling lawmakers back for Special Session #4 to complete their critical work to empower Texas parents to choose the best education pathway for their child while providing billions more in funding for Texas public schools and continuing to boost safety measures in schools.”
He continued, “We must pass laws that will enhance the safety of all Texans by increasing funding for strategic border barriers and mirroring the federal immigration laws President Joe Biden refuses to enforce. Texas will also arrest people for illegal entry into our state from a foreign nation, and authorize the removal of anyone who illegally enters our state, with penalties up to 20 years in prison for refusing to comply with removal. To crack down on repeated attempts to enter Texas illegally, illegal re-entry will be penalized with up to 20 years in prison. I look forward to working with members of the Texas Legislature to better secure Texas and pass school choice for all Texas families.”
The school choice issue never really got off the ground in the House during the third special. The Senate passed its plan, but the House never held a hearing on its proposal.
In the final days, Abbott announced that there was a deal struck, but subsequent statements by Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick indicated there wasn’t — at least not one that could be sped through the process in time before the 30-day clock ran out.
Also:
The other items that also stalled out in the Legislature during the third special session include a $1.5 billion appropriation for border barrier construction, the Senate’s version of which encompassed $40 million for state law enforcement overtime aimed at Colony Ridge, and the creation of a state offense for illegal entry into Texas from a foreign nation.
Now it remains to be seen if Phelan is willing to get his ass in gear, or if the cabal backing him is going to go all out to prevent school choice from being passed in Texas.
Stay tuned…
Tags: 88th Texas Legislative Session, Colony Ridge, Dade Phelan, Dan Patrick, education, Greg Abbott, Republicans, school choice, Special Session
So why does Texas Gov. Gregg Abbot not fire Dade Phelan from his position?
Because Speaker of the House is a legislative position, and the governor has no control over the legislative branch.
The house gets paid during the special sessions – whether or not they actually meet and get anything done.
Is this really a punishment?
The Texas House of Repesentatives is a part time gig, with the members supposedly being “citizen/ representatives”, and generally have to maintain a job back home of some kind. When they’re called into session, they can’t be working on their bottom line, unless they’re wealthy.
At least that’s the theory…
So, what can actually be done to Dade and friends if they do nothing?
How many of them can be successfully primaried?
The house gets paid during the special sessions – whether or not they actually meet and get anything done.
Is this really a punishment?
Have you seen that pay? It’s $221 per diem* when in session and otherwise $7200/yr. $221 can go a long way, but I invoice more than that in an hour with my job, and I suspect many of these legislators could command greater in their normal job. Not showing up isn’t an option either, because they can be arrested and forced to attend if a quorum cannot be met.
*data from Houston Chron piece on the matter in 2021. It could have changed, but I doubt by much.
I’m not arguing for more pay. I’m just noting there is incentive (and I like that incentive) for Texas legislators to get their job done, get it done quickly, and get back to their day jobs.
So, what can actually be done to Dade and friends if they do nothing?
How many of them can be successfully primaried?
https://texasscorecard.com/state/speaker-dade-phelan-receives-first-challenger-in-gop-primary/
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_fd33d0e4-0bc3-11ee-a3f1-7746477ff2c6.html
https://texasscorecard.com/state/gun-rights-activist-to-challenge-state-rep-andrew-murr/
Murr is my RINO rep. I’ll support his challenger and might even work for the coampaign.