Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick: Statement on School Choice
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued the following statement May 11th:
"I am in full support of Governor Abbott’s statement that he will support school choice in the upcoming legislative session. I have long advocated for parents' right to exercise choice in the education of their children. Since I was elected Lieutenant Governor, the Texas Senate has twice passed education choice legislation.
"Texas has over five million students in our public school system. That’s more students than some states have people. We can support school choice and, at the same time, create the best public education system in America. These issues are not in conflict with each other.
"I am fully committed to a robust and well-funded public education system in Texas. As Lieutenant Governor, working with the Texas Senate, we’ve added historic funding to public education, increased teacher pay, expanded career and technical education programs, fortified the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), issued two 13th checks to retired teachers, and increased retiree benefits.
"We must have a great public school system because the overwhelming majority of students and parents like their schools and their teachers and will choose public schools. However, parents still want the fundamental right to choose what they think is best for their children.
"Parents are speaking out across Texas and America more than ever that they want a stronger say in their child’s education. After all, it is the parents – not the education system or the unions – who should have the final say over their children’s education. No one should be surprised by that."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on Texas Power Grid Conditions
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement on May 13th:
"This weekend's energy conservation warning is another sign that we must have greater reliability. Since Winter Storm Uri crippled Texas, I have fought for more dispatchable gas-fired energy available on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. During the last legislative session, I championed replacement of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and ERCOT boards. The new members are doing their work, but they must have more power to meet Texas' needs. Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3 were good first steps but work remains to be done. I will never waiver in my commitment to more reliable Texas power."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Appointment to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council
Today, May 19th, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the appointment of Dr. Denise Wilkes, of Kemah, to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council. Upon making the appointment, Lt. Gov. Patrick issued the following statement:
“Funds recovered by Texas from statewide opioid settlement agreements must be spent wisely to address the opioid crisis hurting our communities. I have full confidence that Dr. Wilkes will be a responsible steward of the money from these settlements and will recommend strategies that best address the ongoing crisis.”
Dr. Denise Wilkes, M.D., of Kemah, is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Wilkes is a member of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists and the Texas Pain Society, and received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch.
The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council was created to manage the distribution of money allocated to the council from the opioid abatement trust in accordance with a statewide opioid settlement agreement, and ensures money recovered is allocated fairly and spent to remediate the opioid crisis in Texas. The council is tasked with submitting an annual report to the legislature detailing all expenditures made during the previous fiscal year.