In 2023, Texas Republican leaders faced significant internal disagreements, with Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dade Phelan at odds over issues such as property tax relief, school vouchers, and the impeachment of the attorney general. As these tensions persist, the question remains: Will 2025 see a continuation of these intra-party conflicts?
Just last week, Lt. Gov. Patrick called out Phelan for not including “School Choice” in his priorities for the 2025 budget.
In a post on Twitter/X, Patrick said: “Renegade Dade Phelan clearly intends to work AGAINST school choice, again, with his Democrat Chairs and Democrat members behind him.”
Patrick’s comments were in response to Phelan refusing to sign a letter of budget instructions to state agencies, asking them to prepare for a school choice program to pass the legislature next session.
“15 state representatives have already lost their seats and 9 retired over school choice and impeachment. He doesn’t care about his Republican members or Republican voters who support school choice,” wrote Patrick.
Patrick also noted that it has been a tradition for all three leaders to issue a budget instruction letter during the summer before the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January. However, this year, that did not happen.
“For weeks this summer, Speaker Phelan sat on the letter Governor Abbott and I sent him for his signature,” Patrick said. “Rumor has it that the Speaker would not sign the letter because school choice was listed as a priority. Looks like the rumor was true. Not surprised.”
He also claimed Phelan “will work against conservative legislative priorities this upcoming session.”
Abbott and Patrick’s July 25th letter to state agency heads, judges and chancellors, was in response to a July 17 letter from Comptroller Glenn Hegar with his office’s 2024-2025 Certification Revenue Estimate, forecasting a surplus of $18.3 billion.
This figure is expected to increase to approximately $21.2 billion due to unallocated funds initially set aside for an Education Savings Account program that the legislature failed to approve last year.
Abbott and Patrick’s priorities include: “Property tax relief; additional funding to support construction and modernization of dispatchable electric generating facilities; operational funding for the mental health facilities authorized by the 88th legislature; and funding for Education Savings Accounts and securing the border.”
Meanwhile, on the same day, Phelan sent a separate letter to the same recipients prioritizing property tax relief and border security – with no mention of school choice.
After being accused of wanting to “kill” vouchers in the upcoming session, Phelan responded: “This is a routine, technical letter to kick off the budget-making process; it is not a bill or a law. Interim hearings are ongoing on all of these issues — including education — and more. The members of the Texas House will drive the budget process and priorities in the session. That is exactly as it has always worked and will continue to work in the Texas House.”
It is clear that Texas leaders have set the tone for the upcoming legislative session, with public school vouchers expected to remain a central issue.