House Leader Asks: Why Wait For Lawsuit To Fix Texas Education Funding?

AUSTIN — Texas House lawmakers on Wednesday announced a $3 billion proposal to reform Texas’ beleaguered school finance system, a major about-face that has teacher groups marginally hopeful but could set up a major budgeting conflict with the Senate. “The Legislature is faced with the decision to either act proactively, to try to get something done about education funding, or simply do nothing,” House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock said at a press conference. State District Judge John Dietz struck down Texas’ method for funding public schools last August, citing problems of equity, adequacy and efficiency.