Texas Governor Greg Abbott added pay raises for Texas teachers to the agenda for the special session, as House lawmakers spar over a voucher-like program.
Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the north steps of the State Capitol to supporters at a Texas Public Policy Foundation Parent Empowerment rally in March.Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday added pay raises for Texas teachers to the agenda for the special session, but lawmakers have little time before the session ends.
— but Abbott said in a statement Tuesday that he and House Speaker Dade Phelan had “reached an agreement on school choice for Texas families.” “Speaker Phelan and his office have worked daily with the governor and his team to get the call for the current special session expanded so that a discussion on these issues can take place in the House,” Pollock said in a statement. “Speaker Phelan thanks the governor for expanding the call and looks forward to having robust discussions on school funding, teacher pay and other critical education issues with his House colleagues. All members will have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
Because they’re gone, lawmakers can’t move forward with the new items like teacher pay raises, said Rep. Craig Goldman, a Fort Worth Republican who chairs the caucus. He referenced a memo from Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a San Antonio Democrat who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, in which he told members he expected attendance to be low Wednesday because of other district business and family plans for Halloween.
“I know math is hard, but you don’t get to blame House Democrats for a lack of quorum when 20 Republicans were not present on the House floor,” said Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a San Antonio Democrat who chairs the House Democratic Caucus. “That said, what the hell took House Republicans so long to realize what Democrats have known since day-one of the regular and special session: our teachers need a pay raise.
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