Gov. Abbott on education special session: Nope

[TexasTowelie]

Gov. Greg Abbott said 140 days is plenty of time for lawmakers to do the business of Texas, and he's not fond of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's suggestion of a special legislative session to fix school funding.

"Texans don't want a full-time legislature, they want a legislature that can get their work done and then go home," Abbott spokesman John Wittman said in an email.

Patrick told the Midland Reporter-Telegram this weekend that lawmakers won't have time to fix public school funding during the regular legislative session, which begins in January. The governor, he said, would have to call a special 30-day additional session to deal with that issue.

"If the governor is willing, I am willing to address it in a special session," Patrick said. "We can't continue the way we have been going. ... The best way to handle it is to fix it once and for all."

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2016/10/31/gov-abbott-education-special-session-nope

[LeftInTX]

1. I don't know how to read this...

Dan Patrick wants an Education Savings Account program. (Like a voucher program) I wonder if this would be something he can accomplish in 140 days too. Or was Patrick planning to fill the regular session with his ESA plan, then address public school funding in a special session.

[TexasTowelie]

2. What he wants to do is to end the Robin Hood school funding mechanism.

Here is the link to the Midland Reporter-Telegram article:
http://www.mrt.com/news/article/Dan-Patrick-Only-way-to-fix-Robin-Hood-is-in-10423232.php

It's a good way to keep school districts that are mediocre mediocre.