The first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
LIVE: Pipeline fire in Deer Park burns throughout the night, into morningHow to get compensated for property damage after pipeline fireGet ready to travel this fall with these Insider DealsFrom left: Democrat Jonathan Gracia is challenging Republican incumbent Janie Lopez in state House District 37, which covers part of the Rio Grande Valley and includes Harlingen and part of Brownsville.
Gracia — seizing on one of the state’s hottest political debates — says Republicans in the Texas House are taking the wrong approach in their attempts to approve Abbott’s voucher program that would allow parents to use tax dollars to send their children to religious or private schools. "They have this money and they simply don't want to use it in the correct fashion," Gracia said."We need to make sure that what we have currently is working before we start thinking about trying to expand who's going to take public education dollars. And that's the real travesty of this all."
The impasse cost public schools an additional $7.6 billion that was included in the failed compromise.The candidates contrast on several other issues of state policy, especially health care. "I will be voting for anything that's going to help the Valley," Lopez said. She added that the state had already poured millions into mental health services for adults and children. She noted a psychiatric facility in Harlingen will be expanded thanks to the $1.5 billion approved by lawmakers last year to improve or build new health care facilities.
In their most recent campaign finance report from July, Gracia received $122,375 including $50,000 from himself. He reported spending $11,823 and maintaining $95,486.
Abortion Environment Health Care Politics Public Education State Government Texas Legislature Cameron County Rio Grande Valley School Choice Janie Lopez 2024 Elections
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violationsThe request by the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Department of Justice follows a similar request by a Latino civil rights organization.
Read more »
Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violationsThe request by the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Department of Justice follows a similar request by a Latino civil rights organization.
Read more »
Group of Texas Democrats asks DOJ to investigate Texas over possible voter rights violationsSign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Read more »
Gov. Beshear, Sen. Doug Jones speak to Texas Democrats about winning in the SouthMonday's theme was about how a Democrat can win in the South. The delegation heard from Democratic candidates who flipped states in the South, including former…
Read more »
Texas AG election fraud investigation targets South TexasA prominent Latino civil rights group said Friday at least five South Texas residents, including a Democratic state House candidate, were the targets of raids...
Read more »
Texas GOP invests in South Texas as some fear Nov. lossesSeveral local party officials have signed an open letter warning that “grave and deteriorating” fundraising and voter outreach efforts could leave some candidates vulnerable.
Read more »