T4PE Ratings Database

HISTORY Supports Governor Abbott's "parents bill of rights" as well as increased school choice options. In early April 2022, declared intent to pass a bill similar to the "Don't Say Gay" bill in Florida, saying he would make it a "top priority" in the 88th session. Regular attendee and speaker at the annual School Choice rally at the Capitol. Required testing for COVID to enter Capitol, but no testing for schools. On 8/30, during the second special session, Dan Patrick refused to move forward with restoration of
legislative funding unless Texas House Public Education committee voted to move Critical Race Theory legislation and the bill on transgender youth in sports. Supported SB28/HB3279, which would have eliminated the authority of the SBOE to veto charter applications, giving the sole authority to Commissioner Morath to approve/disapprove new charters. From Twitter, 12/6/21: "Last week, Fort Worth ISD admitted teachers are being trained in CRT even through we banned it in schools. Now a school board member is doxing parents and making outrageous expletive calls to them. (Name redacted) needs to resign today." (RESEARCH NOTE: The person he was calling on to resign is not a school board member. He did not correct the record even after followers pointed this out to him). From Twitter, 11/24/21 "Texas parents are against teaching CRT and we passed a law banning it. Now Fort Worth ISD is trying to sneak it in. (Name redacted) pushed boys and girls sharing bathrooms and boys playing girls sports. It's time for him to move to a blue state." (RESEARCH NOTE: Fort Worth ISD is not teaching CRT, nor is any Texas school). On 9/24/21, congratulated Texas National Blue Ribbon Schools via Twitter. On 9/2/21, in an email at
the end of the second special session, touted SB3 (CRT bill) as a "conservative cornerstone." On 8/14/21, via Twitter, posted regarding a book about the Alamo, "This is why we don't want critical race theory taught in our schools. It breeds false narratives about our history, just like several 'woke' writers did with their book about the Alamo." Statement on August 11, regarding passage of SB3 (CRT bill): "Texans reject 'woke' philosophies that espouse that one race or sex is better than another and that someone by virtue of their race or sex, is innately racist, oppressive or sexist. Senate Bill 3 will make certain that critical race philosophies, including the debunked 1619 founding myth, are removed from our school curriculums statewide. Texas parents do not want their children to be taught these false ideas. Parents want their students to learn how to think critically, not be indoctrinated by the ridiculous leftist narrative that America and our Constitution are rooted in racism." (RESEARCH NOTE: Texas schools do not teach CRT, nor any of the ideas in the LG's quote). Statement on 8/9/21, regarding passage of SB7 (13th check for retirees): "When I became Lt. Governor, I made it my priority to make the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) actuarily sound and I am very proud that we have accomplished that goal. We provided a 13th check for retired teachers in 2019 and I am proud that we can provide this check today. I will not stop fighting for our retired teachers and I'm proud that the Texas Senate has stood up for them again. Other than a parent, no person is more important to the development of a child than a teacher. Providing a 13th check for our retired teachers is yet another way we can honor their commitment to our children and to the future of Texas." On 5/28/21, via Twitter, "Senate saved Critical Race Theory ban after TXHouse point of order. #HB3979 now on glide path to @gregabbott desk. #no1619 #txlege". Via tweet on 5/26/21, supported bills to ban trans girls in school sports (SB29) and end taxpayer funded lobbying (SB10). Per retweet of Senator Bettancourt on 4/18/21, supported SB28 (charter schools bill). On 3/2/21, released top 31 legislative priorities for 87th lege. These included "charter schools equity act," "fair sports for women and girls," "Stop taxpayer funded lobbying," "Expanding virtual learning options."
PRO-VOUCHER: Jan, 2016 per Texas Tribune "vowed to pass a bigger and better tax credit scholarship program ? and possibly other school choice legislation ? out of the Senate
in 2017, saying school choice remains his top policy priority aside from 'protecting life'...As a former state senator and chairman of the Senate Education Committee...(he) unsuccessfully pushed for a private school voucher program." PROHIBIT DUES DEDUCTIONS FROM TEACHERS' CHECKS: Teach the Vote reports Lt. Gov. Patrick pushed SB7
through the Senate. This bill, which would "eliminate educators? right to utilize payroll deduction to pay voluntary professional association dues, has been a priority of the Lt. Gov. and Texas Senate for years now." FUNDING: In 2014 Lt. Gov. race, Patrick received $768 K from Empower Texans and $675,426 from Texans for Education Reform (pro-privitization group). ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR TEACHERS: Texas Tribune reports June 23, 2017 that before the special session began, Patrick proposed to give "teachers bonuses and
increase their retirement benefits, with plans to pay for both long-term using money from the Texas lottery. Patrick's plan, in part, would provide $600 to $1,000 bonuses to long-term and retired teachers, inject $200 million into the Teacher Retirement System, give $150 million to struggling small, rural districts, and provide $60 million for new facilities for fast- growth school districts and charter schools...BUT...Over the next two years, Patrick said, $700 million to pay for the plan would come from a deferral of funds to managed care organizations. Over the long-term, $700 million would be directly allocated from the Texas Lottery if voters approved an amendment to the Texas Constitution to ensure that transfer of funds continues indefinitely. Currently, about $1.3 billion annually, or 27 percent of lottery funds, goes to public schools. Patrick is currently proposing taking the $700 million from
that $1.3 billion rather than reallocating additional lottery revenue." AND, he called the House plan a "Ponzi scheme." Endorsed by Patriot Texas, Conservative Activists.

T4PE Public Ratings

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