School choice will be Senate Bill 2, behind only the budget, and Lieutenant Governor says he has the votes
DALLAS — When it comes to school choice as a top priority in this state, a single number will tell you all you need to know.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says school choice will be Senate Bill 2, only because the budget is required to be the first Bill filed each session.
But Patrick says he'll ask Governor Greg Abbott to make it an emergency item so it can be the first bill passed.
"Because we're not allowed to pass bills under the constitution until March. But if he makes it an emergency item, we can take it up the first week. We will be ready in the Senate to pass it out immediately," Patrick told us on Inside Texas Politics.
The Lieutenant Governor says the votes are now there in both the Senate and the House.
The system will be set up through the comptroller's office because parents won't receive money directly. Instead, the private school they choose gets the money from the state. And that's why lawmakers are now calling it a grant, as opposed to a voucher.
Parents will also need time to apply after the system is set up.
The goal for implementation is September 2025. But if not then, Patrick says it will be implemented no later than 2026.
And the Republican says school choice will not undermine public education like the opposition has argued loudly.
"Last session, we put $39 billion, approximately, into public education for 5.5 million children in public school. We created a fund of $500 Million, $500 Million compared to $39 Billion okay, $500 million for about 50,000 children whose parents believe they need choice," he said.
Patrick says other priorities next session will include another property tax cut, thanks to another budget surplus. The Lieutenant Governor says they'll make a "significant cut" again.
As for the election, Patrick was one of the few to predict a decisive Trump victory.
And he says it will be extraordinarily beneficial for the state of Texas.
"It's always great when you're in state government to have a great friend in the White House. We have a great friend, once again, in the White House."
As an example, Patrick pointed to the $4 billion he says lawmakers have spent in the state budget the last three sessions to secure the border.
"Well, we're going to be able to take a lot of that money now and put it back to our taxpayers, for roads, for water, for education, for healthcare, for all the things that we need that Joe Biden forced us to spend because he was letting millions of people cross the border," Patrick said.
