On School Vouchers

To the Editor:

Here is the transcript from a speech given by Texas State Representative James Talarico, District 50 concerning school vouchers.

Jaci Elliott Schulenburg

Six years ago, Greg Abbott showed up at a school in my district – Parmer Lane Elementary. He held a press conference there with lots of cameras promising to invest in public education.

But now, that same school is at risk of closing because Greg Abbott hasn’t increased school funding since 2019.

Today, I stood united with parents, teachers, and Democratic lawmakers at Parmer Lane Elementary to demand that Greg Abbott put out students over his billionaire mega- donors.

Texas ranks 43rd in the nation in education funding. Texas teachers are making less than they did 10 years ago when you adjust for inflation. And local property taxes are through the roof because our state government refuses to do its fair share of school funding.

Six years ago, Greg Abbott promised to invest in our public schools. Now, he’s letting them close. What changed?

Follow the money. A group of billionaires who want to privatize Texas schools bought our governor.

One of them – an East Coast billionaire named Jeff Yass – gave Greg Abbott one check for $6 million, the largest campaign contribution in Texas history.

Now Abbott is starving our neighborhood schools and trying to pass a private school voucher scam, which will take more money out of schools like Parmer Lane Elementary an put it in the hands of millionaires and billionaires.

Greg Abbott broke the promise he made at Parmer Lane Elementary. He’s no longer working for the nearly 6 million school children of Texas – he’s working for the billionaires who write $6 million checks.

We have to spread the word – and hold them accountable. – Representative James Talarico