An amendment to the House version of the state budget won overwhelming support to ban the use of state funds on a private schools school choice program. House members voted 103 to 44 in favor of the ban.
The budget covers general state spending on issues ranging from public education to how much money will go towards maintaining Texas roads. Then there are amendments, some of which are meant to show where the House as a body stands on certain issues.
State Rep. Abel Herrero is the author of an amendment that bans the use of state funds to create any type of private school choice program in Texas.
“This amendment would prohibit any funds appropriated to the comptroller from being used for vouchers, education savings accounts or tax scholarships or any similar scheme.”
But those who support efforts to create a voucher program, which has been championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and members of the Texas Senate fought back against the effort to kill it during the House budget debate.
Houston-area Republican Briscoe Cain says, “You know a lot opponents of school choice to say this is only for the rich, it allows poor families to send their child to another school."
But ultimately Rep. Herrero says the bill would divert state funds away from public schools and that is not something a majority of House members are willing to support this session.
