Michael Karlis
Texas Home District 121 candidate Marc LaHood shakes fingers with Gov. Greg Abbott throughout Tuesday’s marketing campaign occasion.
Throughout a San Antonio look Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott mentioned Texas could have a $20 billion surplus on the finish of the present finances cycle, however that cash is not going to well being care or public training, each severely underfunded within the state.
As an alternative, the Republican governor bragged that he’ll use among the funds to assist college vouchers, which he mentioned will defend Texas children from … ahem … cross-dressing lecturers.
“How would you are feeling if you happen to knew that the state of Texas was forcing you to ship your youngster to that college with the lack to maneuver to another college,” Abbott mentioned. “That’s mistaken, completely mistaken. No mother and father needs to be pressured to ship their youngster to a faculty the place the varsity is permitting lecturers to be cross-dressers.”
Abbott’s half-hour speech got here throughout a cease at San Antonio’s Indignant Elephant bar. The governor was stumping for Texas Home District 121 candidate Marc LaHood, who’s difficult three-term State Rep. Steve Allison within the GOP main.
Allison has represented the district — which incorporates Alamo Heights and a swath of Northeast San Antonio — since 2019, soundly profitable reelection in opposition to Democrat challenger Becca DeFelice in 2022.
Nevertheless, the incumbent now faces Abbott’s wrath after becoming a member of different Home Republicans in voting in opposition to the governor’s college voucher plan in the course of the 2023 legislative session. Abbott is spending $400,000 to marketing campaign in opposition to GOP Home members who helped derail the plan, which he’d hoped to be his signature legislative accomplishment.
In the long run, Abbott and his allies by no means received over Democrats or rural Republicans, who argued the proposal would drain cash from already underfunded college districts so the rich can subsidize personal educations for his or her children. Some GOP moderates, together with Allison, additionally balked.
“I imply, he is a pleasant man, little question about that, however he is a man who, when he goes to Austin, Texas, acts like someone from Austin, Texas,” Abbott mentioned of Allison. The jab garnered laughs from the 100-plus folks in attendance.
LaHood had little to say throughout his 30-second speech, aside from voicing his assist for varsity alternative.
Though vouchers had been the phrase of the day, Abbott devoted no time to speaking about how they could have an effect on take a look at scores or academic outcomes. As an alternative, he mentioned his plan is critical if mother and father need to preserve their children from competing in opposition to transgender athletes or studying from cross-dressing lecturers.
“There is a college district simply outdoors of Dallas the place a trainer is displaying up, who’s a person, and he is displaying up as a cross-dresser,” Abbott mentioned to gasps from the group. “He is dressing as a lady.”
Abbott seemed to be referring to an incident at North Texas’ Hebron Excessive, the place a trainer who’s biologically male was caught on video carrying a pink gown and cowboy hat on Valentine’s Day. The trainer is on administrative depart whereas the district investigates, in response to media experiences.
“Versus the youngsters with the ability to focus their consideration on their research in school, they’re gonna see this man strolling round in a gown and excessive heels,” Abbott informed the group.
Abbott has spent the previous 21 months advocating for vouchers regardless of consultants warning that the laws would doubtless crater take a look at scores and threat bankrupting the state by funding two separate training methods.
It is unclear till after the March 5 main whether or not the governor’s effort to main Republicans who opposed his plan truly sends some dwelling from Austin or just serves as a drain on their marketing campaign coffers.
Early voting for the primaries opened Tuesday.
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