I’ve tried to make political comments few and far between and focus on the funnier side of life, but there’s little humor coming to us from Austin or Washington.
First off, I’m really disappointed Gov. Greg has won his school voucher conquest.
He’s really played mean-spirited hardball getting there and none of it was directed at helping Texas public schools.
Abbott doesn’t care much for local government, particularly public schools – he’s carried on a never-ending feud on both counts.
You’ll remember a few years back that our governor held additional school funding and teacher pay raises hostage to getting his way on vouchers.
Democrats and rural Republican state reps won that battle against vouchers.
So, the guv made sure that schools didn’t get higher funds and teachers didn’t get their raises.
Meanwhile, he spends his considerable campaign funds to go after Republicans who voted against vouchers and backs their primary opponents financially and guess what, they lost and Abbott gets compliant state reps.
Long story short, the Texas House approved the $1 billion private school voucher program.
It actually looked promising to me for a while, with Democrats and a few Republicans backing an idea to put vouchers on the November general election.
Vouchers in other states haven’t done so well as a ballot referendum as a rule.
But Abbott put the pressure on, letting state reps know their precious bills would be dead in the water if they voted against vouchers.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick – another champion of most things I oppose – let it be known the senate would adopt the house voucher vote, voiding any reconciliation between the house and senate.
The House vote does ensure $7.7 billion for public schools and teacher pay raises.
But that $1 billion for vouchers will increase – in a hurry – and the money will come from future public school funds.
On the national level, I’m like many Americans who are worried about the direction our nation’s government has taken.
I’m on Social Security and Medicare. Obviously, like millions of other Americans I worry a lot where we’re headed.
Too bad our U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls can’t keep us informed about seniors’ safety nets.
At least tell us you’re staying on top of things and reassure us that a system we’ve paid into for decades is safe.
