Teach the Vote's Week in Review: June 9, 2017

Date Posted: 6/09/2017 | Author: Jennifer Mitchell, CAE
Here's your latest news wrap-up from the ATPE Governmental Relations team:


- One is the anti-educator legislation to do away with teachers' rights to pay their voluntary professional association dues using payroll deduction. In Tuesday's press conference, Gov. Abbott revived tired rhetoric from his Jan. 2017 State of the State address that has already been proven false - the claim that taxpayer dollars are being spent to collect "union dues." We will continue to refute this unfounded claim and fight this harmful, unnecessary measure aimed at silencing educators' voices by making it more difficult for them to join associations like ATPE.
- Also on tap for this legislative overtime is yet another push for private school vouchers for students with special needs. With the Texas House of Representatives having already voted multiple times to reject this idea, it is hard to fathom a sudden change of heart that would give this legislation a greater chance of passing during the special session.
- Lastly, the governor is also asking lawmakers again to try to restrict local school districts' adoption of policies on bathroom usage. Both chambers passed versions of a bathroom bill during the regular session, but they could not agree on the extent to which the state should infringe on local control over these decisions. In other words, get ready for even more potty talk.

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