School voucher fallout leaves Texas Legislature with no clear sense on next steps – By Patrick Svitek (Texas Tribune) / Nov 22, 2023
Vouchers were left without a clear path forward after a decisive vote Friday. Gov. Greg Abbott, who had threatened lawmakers with more special sessions to pass the proposal, seems to have turned his attention to punishing voucher opponents in next year’s primary elections.
Texas lawmakers are returning home for Thanksgiving as uncertainty looms over Gov. Greg Abbott’s yearlong push for school vouchers, which the House rejected Friday in its most direct vote on the issue yet.
Both chambers quickly gaveled in and out Tuesday, announcing they would reconvene again Monday. But it is unclear what happens next at the Capitol after the House voted 84-63 on Friday to strip a voucher program out of a broad education bill.
Abbott responded to the defeat by promising to “continue advancing school choice in the Texas Legislature and at the ballot box.” He has not said whether he wants legislators to keep trying in the current special session — which still can go until Dec. 6 — or whether he would call a fifth special session to push again for vouchers.
“Texas parents deserve the freedom to choose the education path that’s best for their child to succeed,” Abbott spokesperson Renae Eze said in a statement for this story. “Governor Abbott has made it clear that he will do whatever it takes — however long it takes — to deliver that freedom for all Texas families through school choice.”
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