Greg Abbott Sets Billionaire-Sponsored Special Session Agenda to Defund Texas Public Schools, Further Militarize the Texas Southern Border

AUSTIN, Texas – Today, Greg Abbott’s billionaire donors set the agenda for the third special session of the 88th Texas Legislature. As expected, private school voucher schemes are positioned with the highest priority despite not having majority support. Greg Abbott also placed several border priorities on the agenda that includes funding for the border fence, criminalizing border entry and authorizing all law enforcement agents to deport migrants, adding fuel to Operation Lone Star’s dumpster fire. 

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement: 

“Not a single priority proposed by Greg Abbott helps ease the day-to-day lives of working Texas families. While Texas Republicans work to defund public schools and turn our southern border into a war-zone, Democrats in the Texas House will propose data-driven legislation that champions communities and addresses the shortfalls of our education and immigration system head-on – not divert funds from struggling schools and other state agencies to fund swanky private schools that are run by shady billionaires. 

“Billionaire mega-donors have infiltrated our state government, and are the driving force behind Greg Abbott’s elusive agenda to further an extremist plot to monopolize power. Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans have a long history of working for billionaires – but using their influence to disrupt our entire education system and make our border more dangerous further proves their eagerness to leave vulnerable, working families behind so they can get ahead.

“Defunding public education and imprisoning vulnerable migrant families might be a top priority for Texas Republicans – but here in Texas, Democrats are the only legislators acting as the adults in the room. It’s clear that the Republican Party of Texas is currently operating in a state of chaos – and the only uniting factor is their hatred for migrants and teachers. If this legislative session is anything like we saw in the regular 88th session – we can all expect nothing but an utter trainwreck.”

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