Politics

VIDEO: ‘Dark day for Texas’ as Greg Abbott signs $1 billion school voucher law

Gov. Greg Abbott signed his school voucher bill into law on May 3, celebrating with hundreds of supporters on the lawn of the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas Capitol
Gov. Greg Abbott declared a school voucher bill one of his legislative priorities for the 2025 session. (Photo by Matt Hennie)

Gov. Greg Abbott signed his school voucher bill into law on May 3, celebrating with hundreds of supporters on the lawn of the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

The event had the feel of a religious pep rally, complete with a band from a private Christian school, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, and a fiery sermon from the director of a Christian microschool. Abbott had reason to celebrate — the plan to give parents up to $1 billion in public funds to spend on private schools was years in the making.

But opponents of the voucher plan, including labor activists and Democrat lawmakers, blasted the measure a few hours before Abbott signed it as a giveaway to wealthy parents at the expense of the state’s underfunded public schools.

 

@couriertexas

Opponents call it a “voucher scam.”

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