DALLAS — When school choice becomes a top priority in this state, one number tells you everything you need to know.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has said school choice will be Senate Bill 2, but only because the budget would have to be introduced as the first bill of each session.
But Patrick said he will ask Gov. Greg Abbott to make it an emergency item so the bill passes first.
“Because constitutionally we’re not allowed to pass a bill until March. But if he makes it an emergency item, we can take it on in the first week. We’re in the Senate. We are prepared to pass it immediately,” Patrick told Inside Texas Politics.
The lieutenant governor said votes are currently being taken in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Since parents will not receive the money directly, this system will be set up through the Board of Audit. In return, the private school of their choice receives funding from the state. That’s why lawmakers call it a subsidy, not a voucher.
Parents also need time to apply after the system is launched.
The target date for implementation is September 2025, but even if that doesn’t happen, Patrick says it will be implemented by 2026 at the latest.
And Republicans insist that school choice does not undermine public education, as the opposition vocally contends.
“Last session, we put about $39 billion into public education for the 5.5 million children who attend public schools. We created a $500 million endowment, compared to $39 billion. “We’ve donated $500 million to nearly 50,000 children whose parents believe they need a choice,” he said.
Patrick said other priorities for the next legislative session include further property tax cuts thanks to another budget surplus. The lieutenant governor said he would again make “significant reductions.”
When it came to the election, Patrick was one of the few people to predict a decisive victory for Trump.
And he says that would be very beneficial to Texas.
“When you’re in state government, it’s always great to have great friends in the White House. I’ve made another great friend in the White House.”
As an example, Patrick cited the $4 billion he claims lawmakers have spent in state funds over the past three sessions on border security.
“Yes, we can now collect that much money and give it back to taxpayers for roads, water, education, health care, all the things that we need that Joe Biden forced us to do. We could do it.’ We didn’t need to spend money because we were getting millions of people to cross the border,” Patrick said.
The lieutenant governor also discusses the future of casino gambling in Texas. Listen to the full interview to learn more.
