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 session. 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.
Source: The Epoch Times
What is the Texas Senate immigration bill?
Senate Bill 4, sponsored by state Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, would increase the minimum sentence from two years to 10 years for smuggling immigrants or operating a stash house. SB 4 passed with bipartisan support in a 29-2 vote. Matter. The Senate initially passed Senate Bill 1, which aimed to increase border security funding and deploy additional resources to secure the Texas-Mexico border. However, the House made significant changes to the bill, leading to a disagreement between the two chambers.
The Texas House proposed House Bill 16, which included provisions related to border security but also addressed other issues such as funding for state agencies and retired teachers’ healthcare. The Senate rejected the House’s version and requested a conference committee to resolve the differences between the two bills.
Unfortunately, no agreement has been reached, and the standoff between the House and the Senate continues. Both chambers are unwilling to concede on their respective versions of the border security bill, further delaying any progress on this crucial issue.
School Choice
School choice is another contentious issue that has contributed to the standoff between the House and the Senate. School choice advocates argue that parents should have the freedom to choose the best educational option for their children, whether it be public, private, or charter schools.
Governor Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and many conservative lawmakers have emphasized the importance of passing school choice legislation in Texas. They believe that school choice will promote competition, improve educational outcomes, and provide more opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
On the other hand, opponents of school choice argue that it could undermine public education by diverting funds away from public schools. They argue that addressing the funding issues and improving public schools should be the priority, rather than expanding school choice options.
The disagreement over school choice has led to a deadlock between the House and the Senate. The House has introduced House Bill 3, which focuses on expanding school choice options, while the Senate has proposed Senate Bill 3, which includes provisions to improve public school funding and accountability measures.
Both chambers are unwilling to compromise on their respective bills, prolonging the standoff and preventing any legislation from moving forward.
The ongoing standoff between the House and the Senate over border security and school choice is a significant obstacle to passing crucial legislation in Texas. These issues have been contentious for years, and lawmakers on both sides are deeply invested in their respective positions.
As the third special session draws to a close, it remains uncertain whether any agreements will be reached. The standoff highlights the challenges of finding common ground on divisive issues and the importance of compromise in the legislative process.
Until the House and the Senate can come to a resolution on border security and school choice, the prospect of any meaningful legislation being passed during this special session seems unlikely. The stakes are high, and Texans will have to wait and see how this standoff unfolds and whether a breakthrough can be achieved.
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