Austin, Texas—Today the Texas Senate debated a school finance proposal that I believe is good policy, but because it lacked a price tag and did not include any data of how it would affect school districts in Senate District 4, I could not support the bill at this time. Throughout my career, I have voted to reign in high-stakes testing, to provide school districts more flexibility, and this session, co-authored a bill to give Texas educators a $5,000.00 raise. I believe in the merits of HB 3, and congratulate Senator Taylor and Representative Huberty on their legislation that reforms the state’s school finance system. Before the session ends, I will have another chance to vote on the final bill, and I look forward to supporting it once I have a clear understanding of the impacts on school districts in Senate District 4, and the true cost of the legislation, which will have implications for all Texas taxpayers.

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