Latest news with #QuorumReport
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas sends $8.5 billion school funding bill to Gov. Abbott: Here's what's in it
The Brief The Texas Legislature passed a massive $8.5 billion school funding package, which has now been sent to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval. Nearly half of the funding ($4.2 billion) is earmarked for teacher and staff pay raises. While supporters praise the investment, critics have concerns about how funds are allocated. AUSTIN - As schools were dismissed for the summer across the state, the Texas Legislature passed a massive $8.5 billion school funding package. House Bill 2 was sent to Governor Abbott's office on Thursday night. The funding plan looks to provide much-needed dollars to a public school system that has struggled under previous funding formulas. "Satisfying all of those needs is an incredible undertaking, and I believe that this version of House Bill 2 before you now meets that moment," said State Rep Brad Buckley (R) Salado who sponsored HB2. By the numbers About half of the money, according to Buckley, $4.2 billion goes to pay & retention. The money is to have a very specific pay out: $2,500 for teachers with three to four years of experience. $5,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience in districts with more than 5,000 students. $4,000 for teachers for three to 4 years $8,000 dollars for teachers with five more years of experience in districts with 5,000 or fewer students. $500 Million will go for support staff pay raises. Those that qualify include entry-level teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, custodians, bus drivers, and other support staff. Harvey Kronberg with the Quorum Report says teacher was used as a political hostage by Governor Greg Abbott in the fight over school choice. Then it was used as leverage in the debate over banning unregulated THC products by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. Final passage of HB2 may still bring political fallout. "So, the philosophical difference is do you trust the local school boards, or do you trust the legislature? And I'll leave that to the public to decide," said Kronberg. By the numbers There are several funding carve-outs in HB2. $677 million for early learning programs. $430 million school safety. $850 million increase for special education. $200 million in charter facilities funding. $300 million increase for rural schools. $153 million for career and Vo-Technical $135 million for teacher certification initiatives There were also questions about how the legislation creates a new $1.3 billion allotment for basic costs. That, according to Buckley, is money for insurance premiums, TRS costs, utilities, transportation. What they're saying "I'll be voting for it. As I've said before, I would vote for a $1 increase to public education," said state Rep. James Talarico during Thursday's final discussion on HB2. The Round Rock Democrat noted while HB2 is large, from him, it gets a failing grade for keeping pace with inflation. HB2 is a mixed bag for public education advocates like Heather Sheffield. "It is great news, it's amazing. However, we just still have some concerns," said Heather Sheffield. Sheffield, who is with the Association of Texas Professional Educators, spoke to FOX7 about those concerns. "It really hamstrings the way that districts can spend the money because it was given in such a way that it must be spent in certain areas. And so it does complicate matters a little bit," said Sheffield. The next step may still involve damage control on the local level. "Unfortunately, we're going to see some things happening in the interim with districts having to cut their budgets and again, because 86% of most district budgets are staff. I think we're unfortunately going to see some staff reductions and more school closures around the state," said Sheffield. A big unknown is how separate legislation dealing with property taxes will impact local school budgets. "A lot of the allotments are also tied to a raise in property values, and if there is not a raise in property values we're going to have an issue there too. So again, this is great news in some aspects, but it is a cautionary tale because there is going to be more help needed in the future," said Sheffield. The Source Information in this article comes from House Bill 2, comments made on the House floor and analysis by Heather Sheffield with the Association of Texas Professional Educators and Harvey Kronberg with the Quorum Report.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas school choice plan, education funding approved: TWITP
The Brief Big topics in "This Week in Texas Politics" included the school choice plan and education funding legislation FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. AUSTIN, Texas - In "This Week in Texas Politics," the big story was the passage of Gov. Abbott's school choice plan and education funding legislation. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. The full discussion by the panel is on the FOX 7 YouTube page. That discussion includes the upcoming 2026 political primaries. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: "This Week in Texas Politics closed out with a lot of fireworks underneath the Capitol dome. Let's get the headlines from our panel and we'll begin first with Harvey Kronberg from the Quorum Report. Harvey, what's your headline for the week?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "Intimidation works." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad Johnson with The Texan News. What's your headline?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott's long-awaited win finally realized." RUDY KOSKI: "And business analyst, Annie Spilman. What's your headline for the week?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Property tax relief measures progress through the legislature." RUDY KOSKI: "The big news of the week, of course, being that on Thursday, Team Abbott getting the win with his school choice plan finally clearing the Texas House. Harvey, you know the fix was in long before this session even began. Do you think that the Democrats just missed an opportunity by digging in?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I think once the President weighed in, whatever Republican support they had evaporated, the only question for the Speaker was how to navigate a way to let them at least get their votes on record. But there was no room left for negotiation." RUDY KOSKI: "The other big vote of the week was HB 2, the education funding plan passing with little opposition. Public education supporters say the amount is good, but not good enough to keep pace with inflation. Brad, Robin Hood is still alive. You know, what reforms caught your eye that you think really may make a difference? BRAD JOHNSON: "The one that caught my eye, whether anything else though, is we may have talked about this before, but the classroom discipline bill." ANNIE SPILMAN: "From a business perspective, I think many don't realize that this legislation also addressed workforce development." RUDY KOSKI: "Next topic. The Trump administration pulled a big grant that was to help build the Houston to Dallas bullet train. Those against the project celebrated that move, but Thursday, the new owners of Texas Central told the House Transportation Committee, the project is still alive. Brad, this fight has always been about somewhat of a property rights fight, right?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it's, there's two sides of it. There's the property rights and then there's just paying for the dang thing. You know, it's so expensive. That's why they needed federal funding. And you look all across the country and massive transit plans like this are running into problems because they're so expensive, it's just difficult to do." RUDY KOSKI: "Annie, why do Republicans hate trains?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, Texas and land and eminent domain and people coming to take their land and you've got especially in rural areas, that's a line in the sand." HARVEY KRONBERG: "Rural representation was always able to block any kind of high-speed rail, but their numbers are dwindling, and a lot of these rural districts are turning suburban. And so, I think the writing is ultimately on the wall, but the funding is going to be the critical thing." RUDY KOSKI: "Lights, camera, action. The Senate this week sent to the House a $500 million bill to help attract film and TV productions to Texas. Annie, you were at the committee hearing in the Senate a couple of weeks ago when Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson testified. But some so-called conservatives are against it. What's your read on SB 22's fate next week in the House hearing?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Listen, this helps support small businesses and local communities like our local florists, restaurants, caterers, print shops, and so on. So, I think anyone that would oppose this seems to have sort of a microscopic view on this and not really looking at ultimately the trickle-down effect on what this could do for Texas communities. RUDY KOSKI: "An ugly floor fight broke out at the State House Thursday before the school reform votes took place and involved a memorial resolution for the late Cecile Richards, who once led Planned Parenthood. That abortion debate really wasn't on my bingo card, but there are some pending bills, action in committee on some abortion issues. Brad, does Thursday floor fight kind of foreshadow some problems with those bills?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it shows two things. First of all, it's a retribution for a couple of things that happened on budget night, or back on the rules. But then I think there is actually a coordinated opposition to the Speaker on certain things." ANNIE SPILMAN: "This sets a really bad precedent. You know, these Memorial Bills are sacred resolutions that memorialize lives. They are really things that were untouchable as far as partisan issues." HARVEY KRONBERG: "We've essentially got two weeks left for Bills to be set and heard in committee and we're approaching a choke point here right now and we just went to DEF CON 3, if not DEFCON 4." RUDY KOSKI: "Think that this was the fight of the session there, Brad, and that everything else is going to be kind of maybe smooth sailing?" BRAD JOHNSON: "No, I don't think so, but I will say this this does provide an interesting test of the Speaker's metal." RUDY KOSKI: In the battle for Senator John Cornyn's U.S. Senate seat, on Friday Ken Paxton posted on social media a list of people endorsing him. That list includes Austin defense attorney Adam Loewy. While Loewy's name is eye-catching, state Senator Joan Huffman's name also came up Friday. She may become a possible contender to replace Paxton as Attorney General. BRAD JOHNSON: "I think the most interesting thing to me is the attorney general's race. That is going to be fascinating to watch. Mays Middleton obviously jumped in, announced with $10 million of his own commitment. John Bash is already in." HARVEY KRONBERG: "I can toss in a name that just surfaced the last couple of days for attorney general. That's Joan Huffman. She is Senate Finance chair, and it would be a free ride for her. BRAD JOHNSON: "Harvey, I just talked to her on the phone this morning, and she said she was seriously considering it." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Some other ones that I've heard that might drop; George P. Bush. Eva Guzman. Brandon Creighton, his name has been thrown out there. Chip Roy and one that you kind of are hearing up and down, Mitch Little. He is a new state Rep and he was involved in the Paxton and impeachment trial (on the Defense Team)." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad, I think last week you had mentioned that this is going to be possibly a reshuffling period for the Republicans here in Texas. You still thinking that?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Well, yeah, I mean, there's been pent-up energy for three cycles for three terms at the statewide level because nobody's left. Well, now some people are leaving. Paxton running for Senate. (former Texas Comptroller) Hager going to A&M." ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, I think right now, the minute you start hearing rumors about statewide and then who might throw their name in the hat there, you start seeing movement in the state Senate, and then there's rumors about who from the House is in that Senate district and who's going to move up there." HARVEY KRONBERG: "The candidate most people want to see is Brian Harrison, decide to run for Congress and leave the House of Representatives. That would have near universal support. " RUDY KOSKI: "Let's wrap things up with one final word. Can you believe it? One final word for this week. All right, guys, let's try it. Harvey, what's your one word?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I'm going to go back to tariffs." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Reflective." BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott." RUDY KOSKI: "And with that, we're wrapping up another Week in Texas Politics." The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Before school choice vote in Texas House, a plan emerges that could require a voter referendum
Nathan Cunneen, the Texas Director of the American Federation for Children, believes House Republicans will pass the bill that will spend $1 billion of taxpayer money to send students to private schools. "I'm very optimistic school choice will pass the Texas House," said Cunneen. When lawmakers gather Wednesday to consider the legislation, there's talk that a Republican lawmaker who's opposed to the measure will propose an amendment that would require a voter referendum before it could become law. Cunneen rejected the idea he heard being discussed around the Capitol Tuesday afternoon. "This is just a last, desperate attempt to delay, push the process back a few years so that the status quo can protect their system of control," said Cunneen. The Quorum Report was first to report on a proposed amendment that would allow Texas voters to approve of the taxpayer-financed education savings accounts. The Texas Tribune reported that House Democrats have threatened to kill all constitutional amendments unless Republicans agree to put taxpayer-funded education savings accounts to a statewide vote. To pass a constitutional amendment, 100 votes are needed in the House. Because there are only 88 Republicans in the House, at least 12 Democrats are needed to pass them. Sources tell CBS News Texas that Gov. Greg Abbott is set to meet with the House GOP Caucus Wednesday morning before they vote on SB 2. Under the bill, students will receive $10,000 each year if they attend a private school. Disabled students would receive up to $30,000 a year and home-schooled students would get $2,000. Cunneen said he benefitted from a similar program while growing up in Florida. "My parents couldn't afford to send me anywhere else," said Cunneen. "The school choice scholarship enabled me to get the education I deserved and I became the first in my family to graduate college." On the other side of the issue is Hollie Plemons, a North Texas mom and grassroots Republican. She said that she has been coming down to Austin for months trying to defeat this education savings account bill. "This is not conservative legislation by any means," said Plemons. Plemons said the measure is too expensive, expands government, and that she prefers any family who sends students to private school or homeschool, get an exemption on their school property tax. "What about if parents just kept their money if they were not using the public school system, like a homestead exemption or an over 55 exemption? We already have that office set up and there'd be nothing saying that office can't do a tax exemption for schools if you don't have a child within the district," said Plemons. She knows the vote will likely not go her way, but said she is keeping the faith. "I'm just praying that each of the representatives has listened to their constituents more so than the governor," Plemons said. Abbott and Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, have said for months now that they have more than the 76 votes required to pass the bill. Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs and Hollywood stars testifying in Austin: TWITP
The Brief Hollywood stars testify in Austin, Trump's war on tariffs, and a Ken Paxton prosecution update These are some of the big stories in This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Hollywood stars under the Capitol dome and budget trouble with tariffs. These are some of the big stories in This Week in Texas Politics. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Another busy week in Texas politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel and we'll start first with Dallas Morning News reporter, Philip Jankowski. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Trump's tariff trade war turns to turmoil. RUDY KOSKI: Harvey Kronberg, with the Quorum Report. What's your headline? HARVEY KRONBERG: With likely vacancies at Comptroller and AG, 2026, Musical Chairs begins in earnest. RUDY KOSKI: Patrick Svitek with the Washington Post, give me a headline for the week. PARTICK SVITEK: Trump goes all out on tariffs. RUDY KOSKI: Possibly the biggest story of the week is the AP report that the Biden administration, Department of Justice, declined to prosecute Attorney General Ken Paxton. Harvey, what's your take on this? It's somewhat of a surprise, isn't it? HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, it certainly takes off what could have been a primary obstacle. It certainly opens the door and the Attorney General certainly sounds like he's ready to take action. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I think the scrapping of the Department of Justice investigation into him is actually something that he can definitely use to his advantage. PARTICK SVITEK: I don't know if it was the end that I was expecting, but just to play off of what everyone else said, I mean, this gives Paxton a pretty powerful political talking point, at least in the context of Republican primary. RUDY KOSKI: On Thursday, the House Public Education Committee moved forward school funding and school choice legislation. Philip, you wrote an article about this, but more from a homeschooler's perspective. Do they feel like their backs are being pushed against the wall? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I don't know about backs pushed against the wall. If, under the current version, they decide to take an education savings account to the tune of roughly about $2,000, they'd have to take standardized tests for the first time. How much money will they take to be subjected to Norm-Referenced Assessments? RUDY KOSKI: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made a state of the session briefing on Thursday, saying that he and Speaker Burrows were singing from the same songbook, but he still expressed that he had some concerns about how things are going on the house side a little slow. Harvey, are you seeing any signs that there's a breakup happening with the Big 3? HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, let's start with the proposition that the Speaker was actively campaigned against by the Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick. He has a long history of trying to undermine Speakers, trying to stampede the House, and this is going to be a test for Dustin Burrows coming up shortly. RUDY KOSKI: Hollywood stars came out under the Capitol Dome this week. Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and the producer of the TV series, The Chosen, appeared before a Senate hearing endorsing a $500 million plan to attract moviemakers to Texas. Harvey, this is interesting because it's being endorsed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is known for being a small government kind of guy. HARVEY KRONBERG: This is an about face for him. It's kind of a surprising about face because he's always resisted that. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I think it's worth pointing out that Taylor Sheridan was not at the hearing, were actually a couple of folks, Donna Campbell and Paul Bettencourt, senators took aim at the F-bombs and taking the Lord's name in his show and particularly the show Landman. RUDY KOSKI: Tuesday was election day in Florida and Wisconsin. Patrick, you wrote an analysis on those elections. You know, how could what happened there apply in Texas. PARTICK SVITEK: In the Wisconsin Supreme Court race in particular, you saw the role of Elon Musk really backfire there. And so, if you're looking forward, you know, to the race in Texas, I think all candidates are probably thinking about how much to embrace Elon Musk and to embrace the Doge efforts. RUDY KOSKI: President Trump's tariff war certainly has a lot of people on Wall Street shaking in their Gucci shoes. Harvey, you're concerned that this could have a ripple effect on the Texas Budget. HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, I've been singing this song since the election. If 50% of, I wrote originally, if 50% percent of what Trump was proposing passed, it would be devastating to the Texas revenue streams. 53% of our revenue stream comes from sales tax and sales year-over-year growth is essentially flatlined, before the tariffs. The bottom line is that I think 2026, any way you look at it, is going to be a severe budget-cutting session. RUDY KOSKI: You can catch our full discussion on the Fox 7 Austin YouTube page and also on Fox local. But let's wrap up things with one final word for the week. And we'll begin with Harvey. What's your word? HARVEY KRONBERG: Overwhelmingly, it is Tariffs. RUDY KOSKI: Patrick, give me your word. PARTICK SVITEK: You know, I'll say penguins, because I'm thinking of those penguins on the island that got subjected to the Trump terror, even though they're in a very remote location. RUDY KOSKI: And Philip, what's your work. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I can't beat that, but I'll say Retaliation. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Legislature latest, TEA head testifies, Cornyn vs Paxton, and more: TWITP
The Brief The stage was set this week in Texas politics for what could be a legislative session of high drama and infighting. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts have a look at some of the top stories this week. AUSTIN, Texas - The stage was set this week in Texas politics for what could be a legislative session of high drama and infighting. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts have a look at some of the top stories this week. A longer discussion can be found on the FOX 7 YouTube page. RUDY KOSKI: Snakes under the Pink Dome and a Starbase city hall. Wow, what a week it has been. So, let's get our headlines from our panel. And we'll begin first with Brad Johnson from The Texan. Brad, what's your headline? BRAD JOHNSON: The Senate draws a line in the sand on bail reform. RUDY KOSKI: Political analyst Karina Kling. What's your headline? KARINA KLING: Saddle up. Things are starting to move in the Texas legislature. RUDY KOSKI: Harvey Kronberg with the Quorum Report. Give me a headline. HARVEY KRONBERG: The House successfully fights off hostile takeover. RUDY KOSKI: For the past few weeks, the Texas legislature looked like that Super Bowl game, pretty one sided with the Senate scoring votes like the Eagles making touchdowns. But now the statehouse has finally kicked off, finally organizing with committee assignments on Thursday, Brad, Democrat Joe Moody, he's back. Senate Pro-Tem, after being put in time out for that walkout a couple of years ago. What are you hearing about this? BRAD JOHNSON: Moody's back as pro tem. That's really the only from the right. It's the only thing that I've seen that's drawn substantial criticism. KARINA KLING:I will note, you know, one of the things that I noticed was the lack of women in leadership roles. All but two of the committees and subcommittees are run by men. HARVEY KRONBERG: He's leaning into power sharing both with the folks that opposed him and with Democrats. He's trying to build a governing majority. Remember, his adversary is not Democrats. His adversary is Dan Patrick in the Senate. RUDY KOSKI: The state Senate is really pumping out legislation kicking out this week SB 4 another tax cut plan. Bail reform is waiting in the wings for a vote. Karina last session of both issues really hit a brick wall. KARINA KLING: The committee chair is back again, Morgan Meyer, who led the efforts on the House side last time around. And we saw that standoff between what the House wanted versus what the Senate wanted. We haven't seen a House bill yet and we'll see kind of what happens there. RUDY KOSKI: The week started out with the head of TEA testifying before the Senate Finance Committee. Mike Morath put up a red flag, TH commissioner saying his agency needed money or layoffs would happen in the unit that investigates teachers accused of misconduct. Karina, you know, does this factor into the school choice debate that's coming? KARINA KLING: It revealed a gap in maybe in the school choice proposal kind of voiced by Appropriations Chair Jo Ann Huffman. Morath said the state has no way of tracking, you know, quote unquote, bad teacher for bad teachers hired by a private school. And Huffman saying that that needs to be addressed. RUDY KOSKI:The Sweetwater Jaycees were back at the Capitol this week with their rattlesnake demonstration. But concerns about a different kind of snake in the grass that came up in a hearing on the lottery commission. BRAD JOHNSON: This is up for Sunset Commission. Sunset Review. And we'll see what the final bill comes out as, what reforms that the legislature implements towards the lottery commission. But then, you know, it's up to these guys to implement it. And if they didn't take the tongue lashing they got the other day too heart. There'll be more to come. RUDY KOSKI: A new poll this week came out that looks ahead to the next primary cycle. It shows a possible close gap in the GOP primary race between John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton with Congressman Dan Crenshaw as a dark horse. Harvey, Senator Cornyn is sure is facing a lot of pushback from hardcore Republicans, but he spent a lot of time fence mending. Does that save him or is he in trouble? HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, he is in trouble. However, having said that, if if they do engage, there's an enormous amount of oppo research on Ken Paxton. He survived his impeachment proceedings, but all the money that was spent, was spent on his behalf. We may have to litigate the impeachment in a Republican primary. RUDY KOSKI: Governor Greg Abbott was back in D.C. this week asking congressional leaders for an Operation Lone Star reimbursement. But this time he described this $11 billion border payback as a real estate deal. Brad, that's pretty shrewd. BRAD JOHNSON: Part of what he's talking about is the federal government purchasing, you know, say the easements that the state government has purchased to build the wall. Now, there are other, you know, operational expenses the state would hope to get reimbursed for. So it's kind of half and half, I'd say. RUDY KOSKI: A possible out of this world real estate deal is brewing in South Texas. Cameron County has given a Go for a May election to determine if the Space X launch site near Brownsville, built by Elon Musk, can incorporate as a small city. KARINA KLING: I think it's interesting that the votes that are going to be taking place are mainly coming from people that are part of the company. So, I don't see how this does not get across the finish line. RUDY KOSKI: You can catch our full longer discussion on our YouTube page and also on Fox Local. But now let's wrap things up with one word for the week and we'll start off with Harvey, Your word for the week. Harvey. HARVEY KRONBERG: Independence. BRAD JOHNSON: Hardball, straight from the lips of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. KARINA KLING: How about love, fellowship? RUDY KOSKI:And a chocolate ending it is. So, we'll wrap it up with that and a box of candy. And that is This Week in Texas Politics The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
