Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas SB 1 the important fiscal matters bill that contained several important items necessary to complete the budget was initially voted down in the Texas House on Tuesday during its third and final reading by a bloc of conservative legislators due to their deep concern that rural School Districts were not being treated the same in terms of funding and a message had to be sent.
Representative Dan Flynn (R-Van) was one of those who initially voted against this bill even if it meant coming back for another Special Session simply because he felt we cannot continue to value a child in one district more than in another."
Representative Flynn voted against SB 1 on its third reading because of two key concerns that had arisen out of the final language in the bill. First as a rural conservative legislator he was not satisfied with the way our small schools were treated in the public school finance plan and felt we were shouldering a great portion of the cuts unfairly. Second many TEA Parties and conservative groups such as the Texas Eagle Forum have expressed concern with new language affecting charter schools and the Permanent School Fund. Their concern lay specifically with Turkish Harmony schools.
After SB 1 was voted down Rep. Larry Taylor called a special meeting of the Republican Caucus in an effort to save the bill and prevent a second special session. The Governors Chief of Staff and Legislative Director attended the meeting where the conservatives who voted against SB 1 presented their concerns.
An agreement was eventually reached that would see SB 1 into law but not without addressing the two major concerns of myself and other conservative leaders in the Texas House stated Flynn. First an agreement was reached to hold an Interim Study that would look into the school funding situation and prepare substantive recommendations for the Legislature to make sure that equity exists in the public school finance system which has historically treated our rural schools unfairly. Secondly the General Investigating & Ethics Committee will look into the Turkish Harmony School issue thoroughly providing a full investigation of the issues that several conservative legislators and activists have brought forward.
When asked about the agreement Rep. Dan Flynn commented My number one priority has always been the protection of my rural schools; they are the backbone of my district. I am encouraged to see this type of Interim Study to ensure that my folks back home are receiving the quality education that they deserve and that there is real equity in our formulas.
Rep Flynn further stated I could not in good conscious vote initially for a bill that did not provide even a marginal improvement to our district in terms of equity and long term funding solutions. I had to do something to get the attention of leadership that change needs to be made. If everyone takes equal cuts it would have the consequence of causing the smaller and rural schools to have to cut real jobs and teachers while the larger and better funded districts will only be cutting programs and administration. Children in well-funded districts are not worth more than those in lower funded districts.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas SB 1 the important fiscal matters bill that contained several important items necessary to complete the budget was initially voted down in the Texas House on Tuesday during its third and final reading by a bloc of conservative legislators due to their deep concern that rural School Districts were not being treated the same in terms of funding and a message had to be sent.
Representative Dan Flynn (R-Van) was one of those who initially voted against this bill even if it meant coming back for another Special Session simply because he felt we cannot continue to value a child in one district more than in another."
Representative Flynn voted against SB 1 on its third reading because of two key concerns that had arisen out of the final language in the bill. First as a rural conservative legislator he was not satisfied with the way our small schools were treated in the public school finance plan and felt we were shouldering a great portion of the cuts unfairly. Second many TEA Parties and conservative groups such as the Texas Eagle Forum have expressed concern with new language affecting charter schools and the Permanent School Fund. Their concern lay specifically with Turkish Harmony schools.
After SB 1 was voted down Rep. Larry Taylor called a special meeting of the Republican Caucus in an effort to save the bill and prevent a second special session. The Governors Chief of Staff and Legislative Director attended the meeting where the conservatives who voted against SB 1 presented their concerns.
An agreement was eventually reached that would see SB 1 into law but not without addressing the two major concerns of myself and other conservative leaders in the Texas House stated Flynn. First an agreement was reached to hold an Interim Study that would look into the school funding situation and prepare substantive recommendations for the Legislature to make sure that equity exists in the public school finance system which has historically treated our rural schools unfairly. Secondly the General Investigating & Ethics Committee will look into the Turkish Harmony School issue thoroughly providing a full investigation of the issues that several conservative legislators and activists have brought forward.
When asked about the agreement Rep. Dan Flynn commented My number one priority has always been the protection of my rural schools; they are the backbone of my district. I am encouraged to see this type of Interim Study to ensure that my folks back home are receiving the quality education that they deserve and that there is real equity in our formulas.
Rep Flynn further stated I could not in good conscious vote initially for a bill that did not provide even a marginal improvement to our district in terms of equity and long term funding solutions. I had to do something to get the attention of leadership that change needs to be made. If everyone takes equal cuts it would have the consequence of causing the smaller and rural schools to have to cut real jobs and teachers while the larger and better funded districts will only be cutting programs and administration. Children in well-funded districts are not worth more than those in lower funded districts.
