Texas GOP leaders are unlikely to pass school choice and border security legislation before the end of the third special session.
Texas House and Senate Leaders in Standoff Over Border Security and School Choice
The Texas House and Senate leaders are currently locked in a heated standoff over two crucial issues: border security and school choice. This deadlock has made it highly unlikely that any legislation will be passed before the final day of the third special session called by Governor Greg Abbott on November 7.
Despite the impasse, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope on Wednesday when Governor Abbott expressed optimism that his top priority, school choice, would finally see progress. He announced an expanded agenda for the special session after “productive discussions” with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan.
“We are on track to ensure there will not be another special session,” Mr. Abbott confidently declared during a press conference on November 1. “There is enough time to get everything done that we want to get done, that needs to get done to avoid a special session, especially with what I think will be the bill coming out of the House later on today.”
“I think that it will be embraced because so many legislators have so many wins in the bill that will be coming out today. I think that we are on a timetable where we should be able to conclude everything that needs to be achieved in this special session.”
The governor’s office released a statement detailing the expanded special session agenda, which includes key aspects such as increasing teacher pay, boosting funding for public schools, and phasing out the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test.
However, just hours after Governor Abbott’s optimistic announcement, House Speaker Dade Phelan declared that the House would “stand at ease” until Monday or Tuesday, effectively halting any progress. This move was met with criticism from House Republicans who accused Phelan of abusing House rules and violating the Texas Constitution.
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Despite the ongoing tensions, Lt. Gov. Patrick expressed hope that the Senate would take action on the bills already passed by the House during their scheduled Sunday meeting. However, no additional House bills were introduced before the House was placed at ease.
Attorney General Ken Paxton also weighed in on the situation, calling for Speaker Phelan’s resignation on social media. The timeline for passing legislation before the special session expires is now deemed too tight by State Rep. Brad Buckley, chair of the Public Education Committee.
This is not the first time that Speaker Phelan and House members have attempted to pressure the Senate into accepting their legislation by abandoning the House during a special session. Earlier this year, the House adjourned “sine die” after just one day of the 30-day special session.
As the standoff continues, Governor Abbott has yet to publicly comment on the situation. However, he has previously vowed to keep calling special sessions until school choice legislation is passed.
Border Security Bill
Border security is another top priority for Governor Abbott in the current special session. However, both chambers have failed to pass any legislation on this issue.
Lt. Gov. Patrick and Speaker Phelan have engaged in a war of words on social media, each criticizing the other’s version of border security legislation. Patrick argues that the House version creates a “revolving door” by not requiring fingerprinting or background checks on immigrants caught crossing the border illegally.
“If someone is a terrorist or serious felon, they’ll be more than happy to take you up on your offer of avoiding arrest and hitching a ride back to the port of entry rather than getting fingerprinted or having a background check run on them,” Patrick wrote in a lengthy post.
“The Senate has been the leader on border security legislation long before you arrived in the House. I don’t pay attention to you anymore, and neither does anyone else. You’ve become the teacher character from the ‘Peanuts’ series. When you talk, all we hear is, ‘Wah wah woh wah wah,'” he continued.
In response, Speaker Phelan criticized the Senate’s version of border security legislation, describing it as an “impotent response” to the border crisis.
“Dan Patrick’s baseless critique of House Bill 4 is a transparent attempt to deflect from his chamber’s own impotent response to the growing crisis at the border—a crisis demanding decisive action, not the ineffective strategies being peddled by the Senate,” Phelan stated.
“The Senate’s response to the threat of illegal immigration is to establish a long-term, state-funded hospitality program for illegal immigrants rather than deploying immediate and effective deterrents,” he added.
The standoff between the House and Senate continues, leaving the fate of border security and school choice legislation uncertain.
What are the main arguments from those in favor of stronger border security measures?
One of the major issues fueling the current standoff between the Texas House and Senate leaders is border security. Governor Abbott has made it clear that this is a top priority for him and has called for legislation to address the concerning situation at the Texas-Mexico border.
The House and Senate leaders have been unable to reach a consensus on this issue, resulting in a deadlock. While the Senate has passed a border security bill, the House has yet to bring it to the floor for a vote. This has created frustration and tension between the two chambers, as lawmakers from both sides argue about the best approach to address border security concerns.
Those in favor of a stronger border security bill argue that it is necessary to protect the state from the influx of illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. They believe that stronger measures, such as increased funding for border patrol and enhanced law enforcement efforts, are needed to ensure the safety and security of Texas communities.
On the other hand, some lawmakers in the House are pushing for a more comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of illegal immigration and focuses on humanitarian efforts. They believe that border security alone is not enough and that it is important to address the underlying issues that drive people to migrate to the United States.
School Choice Legislation
Another contentious issue that has contributed to the standoff is school choice. Governor Abbott has long been a proponent of giving parents more options when it comes to choosing their child’s education. He believes that school choice can help improve the quality of education in Texas and give parents more control over their child’s education.
However, there has been disagreement among lawmakers about the best way to implement school choice in the state. While the Senate has passed a school choice bill, the House has been hesitant to move forward with similar legislation. This has led to a stalemate, with neither side willing to compromise on their positions.
Proponents of school choice argue that it gives parents the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their children. They believe that competition among schools will lead to higher quality education and better outcomes for students. They also argue that school choice can help address the issue of educational inequality by providing options to low-income families who might not otherwise be able to afford private school tuition.
Opponents of school choice, however, believe that it will divert resources away from public schools and lead to further inequities in the education system. They argue that instead of investing in school choice programs, the state should focus on improving the quality of public schools and ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education.
The standoff between the Texas House and Senate leaders over border security and school choice has created a challenging political situation. With the current deadlock, it is unclear when or if any legislation related to these issues will be passed. As the clock ticks closer to the end of the third special session, the pressure is mounting for lawmakers to find a resolution and avoid another special session being called by Governor Abbott.
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