Austin Centrist

This is the third installment in Austin Centrist’s four-part series on school finance in Texas. Governor Rick Perry has called a special session, set to begin on April 17, to address the issue.

The third installment answers the question:

What else should we address?

A special session of the Texas Legislature lasts 30 days. In politics, especially today’s politics, one month isn’t much time to push any significant amount of legislation through the legislative process. True, the governor can called as many special sessions as he deems necessary, but at the beginning of each new session legislation must pass though the same process (committee debate and passage – floor debate and passage – approval by other chamber – conference committee if necessary, etc.) all over again. A stalemate with no results in one session can more than likely repeat in the next.

Thus the key for a successful special session is to address a minimum number of issues. This was one of many factors that doomed the legislature to deadlock in last year’s two special sessions. The lawmaking body attempted to both rework the tax system that pays for our educational system and reform the educational system itself, in addition to addressing telecommunications reform, eminent domain, wind power, the TEA budget, and judicial pay raises. With the high level of division among legislators, even among the all-Republican leadership, on every topic, there was simply no way to achieve every reform within the special session framework. And it was the education reforms, the most important issues of the sessions, which were left out in the cold.

During this coming special session, reorganizing the tax system is more than just a goal for the legislature – it is an obligation, a priority as mandated by the state Supreme Court. It therefore warrants legislator’s full attention. So what else should the lawmaking body address? Very little, if anything. I know that there are so many areas of our state’s education policies other than its financing methods that need attention; however, it is better that legislators focus on and achieve one goal than consider many and fail to address them all.

Many education groups will be pushing for a special session that addresses vast reforms. But what they should be urging is the following – fix the tax system now, but come the beginning of the next regular session in January 2007, be ready to address the numerous other major issues with the Texas education system. Be ready to make those issues not one of many but the priority for the session. And take whatever steps (independent commissions, select committees, etc.) necessary to ensure this happens.

In the final installment of the series, I will address some of those issues and possible reforms. It will not come, however, until the conclusion of the special session(s), as I will await the results of the legislature’s efforts.